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In the UK,strategic insight agency Opinium has named ten more staff members as equity partners,as it aims for eventual 50% employee ownership. More
Kantar has announced a partnership with attention-based media quality measurement specialist Adelaide, enriching the outputs from the former's LIFT and LIFT+ products. More
Insight agency TRA has appointed six people in its Sydney and Melbourne teams, reflecting 'significant organic and new business growth across both markets'. The six are Alexandra Fulton, Nana Kawaura, Jemimah Gray, Claire Timmons, Charlotte Saunders and Sam Stalley. More
Netherlands-based full service agency DVJ Insights has appointed Adrian Sanger as its new Head of Shopper Domain, reflecting its expanding work in shopper behaviour, innovation and brand strategy. More
The Tesco Media & Insight Platform, which combines the British supermarket's loyalty card data and in-store insights with the expertise of its subsidiary dunnhumby, has appointed former Amazon exec Steve Edwards as Head of Agency, and former Pinterest man Russell Franklin as Head of Client Bus Dev. More
Charlotte, NC-based full service marketing agency AC&M Group has announced the acquisition of Argentinian partner firm Axlot, which offers web development, digital advertising, analytics and digital innovation. More
Leeds, UK-based agency Blue Yonder Research has announced the appointment of five new trainees since the beginning of the year: Karolina Lydka, Emily Herbert, Lucy Hart, Logan Doig and Tommy Tsang. More
In the US, RSB Insight and Analytics has created a permanent in-house role as Senior Director of Insights & Analytics for Johanna Steen, who has been working for the firm as a consultant for nearly two years. The former Hall & Partners researcher will help to drive the development of innovative methods. More
British firm STRAT7 Jigsaw has promoted Sarah McKee to the role of Managing Director, taking over the day-to-day running of the business from founders Ann Morgan and Sue Van Meeteren, who will move to focus on key accounts and improving collaboration between Jigsaw and other STRAT7 Group companies. More
In Toronto, Canada, consumer insights and cross-platform audience measurement provider Vividata has announced a strategic partnership with data solutions and data science company Consumer Orbit. A new company and two new products are the immediate results of this collaboration. More
London-based retail testing tech firm Virtual Store Trials (VST) has appointed Jenny Hall as Research Director. More
Strategic insight consultancy Firefish has hired Ajibola Bolarinwa as a Director in its US business, based in Los Angeles. More
Kantar, has appointed James Lavell in the new role of Chief Commercial Officer for its Profiles Division - the group's Centre of Expertise for panel management as well as home to its portfolio of custom research services. More
London-based Streetbees, whose platform captures and analyses in-the-moment feedback via mobile from 3.5 million 'bees' around the world, has integrated photo and video capture capabilities into its AI-powered market research tool, SBX. More
Purchase transaction specialist Behaviorally has announced two appointments in its expanding Chicago office: Morgan McClure joins as VP Business Development and Quinn Russell as Business Development Manager. More
Purchase transaction insights firm Behaviorally has partnered with China-based eCommerce giant Alibaba to offer the former's pack testing products on the latter's TMIC (Tmall Innovation Center) platform, allowing users to assess the impact of packaging design and eCommerce visuals in the country. More
Ipsos has reported continued solid growth in the first quarter of the year, with revenue up 4.5% in organic terms, to EUR 557.5m. The EMEA and Asia Pacific regions led the way with revenue up more than 9% in each case (organic) while the Americas saw a 3.2% decline. More
NIQ's digital product content division Brandbank has launched a new product data optimisation solution, Content Health+, providing insights into category comparison and content benchmarking. More
Former 2CV, GfK and Walnut Unlimited researcher Antonio Margaritelli has joined London agency Disrupt Insight as a Research Director. More
In California, veteran food and beverage product development firm Mattson has announced the acquisition of Chicago-based Hyde Park Group Food Innovation (HPG) - giving it its first location outside the Bay Area of San Francisco. More
AI-based consumer research platform Bounce Insights has brought in Aaron Peck as Regional Commercial Director, North America, as it expands into the US. The company has also added Ian Kiernan to its board as Non-Executive Director. More
British-based insight agency Opinium has promoted Wez Eathorne to the new role of Global Head of Brand, Comms & Product Research. More
London-based marketing group Unlimited, parent of insight agency Walnut, is to join Accenture Song, the business services behemoth's 'tech-powered creative group'. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. More
Purchase transaction analytics specialist Behaviorally has announced a number of recent promotions, including Ethel Klein and Mavis Tong to VP Customer Success, Stephen Omogbehin to Vice President, IT, Coraline Petipas to Director, Customer Success and Natasha Gonzalez to Director, Behavioral Qualitative. More
Custom market research firm AMC Global has appointed Jennifer Binelli as Senior Research Director, Strategy & Insights, and made a number of promotions including Ashley D'Annunzio to VP of Qualitative Insights and Reene Kalola to Senior Research Director, Strategy & Insights. More
UK-based strategic research and planning consultancy STRAT7 Incite has continued a recent series of senior hires, bringing in Alex Banks as Senior Principal. Last month John Tearle and Emma Davies rejoined the company in senior roles. More
Manchester, UK-based product intelligence platform Vypr has appointed Glenn Porter as Chief Commercial Officer. More
Consumer intelligence firm NIQ has announced the launch of 'Full View - Measurement', a suite of features available within its Discover platform, promising an omnichannel view of data with item-level granularity for retailers, manufacturers and the financial services community. More
UK-based consumer and B2B researcher 2CV has announced eleven promotions, including Chris Oatey and Jon Smetherham to Regional Directors, responsible for leading the Asia team based in Singapore; and in the UK Kar Hoo Lee to Associate Director of Data Services and Abigail Plank to Associate Director. More
Marketing intelligence software company Proxima has closed a $12m Series A round of funding. Money will be used to further develop its technology platform, including AI-powered feature development, as well as recruitment for its tech and commercial teams. More
Consumer information and credit reporting company TransUnion has partnered with researcher MRI-Simmons, promising clients 'improved actionability across the addressable marketing ecosystem'. More
In the US, Research & Marketing Strategies, Inc. (RMS) has appointed retail operations veteran Doug Sweet as Administrative Office Coordinator. More
In the US, cultural intelligence specialist Collage Group has added new features to its fleun.ci SaaS application: a Head-to-Head Dashboard, providing competitive insights; an Industry Dashboard giving a category-level view of brand-specific consumer sentiment; and an enhanced Audience Insights offer. More
MCI, a tech-enabled business services conglomerate headquartered in Miami Beach, FL, has agreed to acquire Atlanta, GA-based Market Force Information, whose range of CX solutions includes customer feedback surveys, mystery shopping, operational audits and competitive benchmarking. More
Dutch insights-based consultancy SKIM has appointed Adrien Bourgeois as Relationship Director, based in Paris and responsible for driving the growth of client partnerships in France. More
Marketing strategy, consumer behavior and analytics consultancy GBK Collective has appointed Virginia Lennon as SVP of Research and Insights, Prachi Bhalerao as Marketing Data Scientist, and Reagan Jacobs as Senior Analyst. More
B2B research firm NewtonX has appointed former American Express employee Kavita Anand as Vice President of Product, leading strategy, design and development for products including the firm's Knowledge Graph and its expert intelligence platform NewtonX Prime. More
Consumer intelligence specialist NIQ - previously Nielsen IQ - has appointed former TransUnion exec R. Dane Mauldin as Chief Transformation Officer. He replaces Curtis Miller, who moves into the role of Chief Strategy Officer. More
In New York, transaction insights specialist Behaviorally has announced the appointment of Richard Bell as Managing Director, Global Client Capabilities. More
US firm Decision Analyst has promoted Bonnie Janzen to President, taking over the role from founder Jerry W. Thomas, who continues to serve as CEO More
In the US, neuro- and behavioral science specialist HCD Research has appointed Rachel Czapla as Senior Director of Global Research and Consulting. More
Market Research charity the MRBA has three days to run on its 2024 auction. Bidding for two tickets to Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras tour (Wembley Stadium concert, August) currently stands at £1,500, but those with more modest budgets can bid for bottles, days / meals out and other items. More
European research agency Bilendi has appointed Cecilia Glauser as the Country Manager for Sweden, replacing Björn Söderlin. More
Consumer and B2B research agency 2CV has promoted Sabine Cronick to the role of CEO of UK/EU, and James Redden to CEO of US and APAC. More
Personalized shopping experience company Fermat, based in San Francisco, has more than doubled its funding to date with a $17m raise. The firm's software allows users to launch, test and optimize web pages based on individual customer journeys and the preferences and intentions they reveal. More
San Diego-based omnichannel consumer data and analytics platform Daasity has acquired Red Fox Analytics, which provides analytics for for retail-focused CPG brands, for an undisclosed sum. The combination promises merchants online and off-line sales, distribution and marketing data in one place. More
Former Dynata Chief Gary Laben has joined retail and consumer goods analytics and inventory optimisation firm Trax, as CEO. More
Consumer behavior data firm Circana has launched SalesTrack, which tracks brand performance relative to competition on a weekly basis within the Canadian foodservice industry. More
Australia marketing advisory, strategy and analytics company Forethought has appointed Diane Shelton and Andrew Slot as Joint Managing Directors, effective immediately. Shelton is a former CEO returning to the firm, while ten-year company veteran Slot has been serving as Interim MD for the past year. More
North of England-based, employee-owned research consultancy DJS Research has announced eleven promotions across its Research and Operations teams, including Kieran Hart to Senior Research Manager, and Claire Williams, Olivia Holt and Lucy Holland to RM. More
Customer data science pioneer dunnhumby has partnered with location analytics specialist Placer.ai in the US to provide retailers and CPG companies with a combination of on-and off-line customer insights and personalize customer communications and experiences. More
Global MR and data group YouGov has announced the rebranding of its Swiss subsidiary LINK, acquired in December 2021, as YouGov Switzerland. More
NIQ, the consumer intelligence company previously part of Nielsen and now combined with GfK, has launched a Global Media Division, which it says is 'designed to enhance the value advertisers derive from their marketing efforts' - and has appointed Lana Busignani to lead it. More
Ipsos has launched InnoExplorer, which uses generative and analytical AI to help clients accelerate innovation cycles 'from months to days' and improve success rates. More
Brand tracking specialist Tracksuit has raised $13.5m in Series A funding, which it will use for its official launch in the US and UK markets, and to expand its research and platform capabilities. More
Marcoms group Stagwell, the owner of the Harris Poll and Harris X brands as well as Maru Group, has launched a new global research community called Unlock Surveys, with plans to add more than 200,000 high-quality, active survey members in 2024. More
In Antwerp, Belgium, design-tech company iVisual has launched AI-based branding and packaging intelligence technology which it says will 'transform the way companies develop branding and packaging'. The new firm has appointed Julie Dumoulin as its CEO. More
Ipsos has reported organic, constant currency revenue growth of 8.8% for the fourth quarter of 2023, and 3% for the full year, with operating profit stable at an all-time high of 13.1%. More
Transaction data specialist Behaviorally has expanded its business development team in New York with the appointment of Director Peter Cloutier, and in Chicago where Shane Schultz joins as a Manager. More
Former Kantar NZ researcher Jo Muller has joined marketing strategy and professional services consultancy the One Picture Group, as Director and Co-Head of Quantitative Insights for New Zealand. More
In San Francisco, consumer insights, marketing strategy and training firm Ignite 360 has announced that founder and Chairman Rob Volpe will resume his role as CEO from next week, as current Chief Lisa Osborne leaves for an insights leadership role at a healthcare nonprofit. More
Packaging, NPD and shopper specialist PRS IN VIVO has appointed Richard Bordenave as global Chief Behavioral Officer. More
UK-based agency Firefish Group has announced five promotions and seven new hires across the business. Fenella Twohig, Ciara Larkin, Rebekah Smith, Karen Chong, Chloe Lee, Jamie Robertson and Jonathan Dance all join the company. More
Ipsos India has expanded the role of Archana Gupta, adding responsibility for Shopper Research and for developing the firm's base of young talent; and has hired former NIQ exec Malavika Mani as Executive Director, servicing large accounts in the west zone. More
UK-based agency davies+mckerr has appointed former Crowd DNA Director David Power as Head of Quant. More
In San Francisco, retail analytics solutions provider Intelligence Node is expanding its offer for retailer clients and third-party sellers, promising an enhanced online shopping experience with more information to support product selections and purchase decisions. More
New Jersey-based applied behavioral science insights agency BEESY has hired Nicole DelBuono as a Technical Project Manager. More
Australian market research technology platform Glow is developing its sustainability metric the Social Responsibility Score (SRS) as a standardized, cross-industry initiative and says it is currently being integrated into the offerings of Kantar, PwC Australia and other research and advisory businesses. More
Lexicon Branding, which develops brand names and wordings for products, services and companies, has appointed three directors including Dmitri Seredenko as Research Director; and has expanded its studio capabilities. More
Consumer behavioral data firm Circana has launched Liquid Data Engage, which allows retailers to manage market performance, category management, loyalty, supply chain, and retail media data assets in one solution, and identify opportunities for growth. More
London-based brand measurement company On Device Research has appointed Gulshan Mahay in the new role of Account Director, in its commercial team in the UK. More
Ipsos has appointed former Kantar and Mintel exec Dale Beaton as head of its Brand Health Tracking (BHT) Service Line in the UK. More
Consumer intelligence provider NIQ has announced two key leadership changes in the Asia Pacific region. Pacific MD Megan Treston will transition to a regional role as APAC Consumer Panel Service (CPS) Product Lead, while recent arrival Pete Sheridan steps into her old role. More
Consumer data giant Circana has announced changes to its commercial organisation including the appointment of former CPG sector President Jeremy Allen as Chief Commercial Officer. Tim Bush, currently President, General Merchandise, will retire by the end of the year after two decades at Circana and NPD. More
Within the BVA-BDRC group, data collection and analysis firm Perspective Research Services has promoted Jade On to Commercial Director, and Henri Dubier to Client Services Director; while mystery shopping and auditing company ESA Retail has added Ops Director Chris Kennedy to its Board. More
Agile and automated market research platform Zappi has appointed Nataly Kelly as Chief Marketing Officer and promoted Babita Earle from EVP of Global Enterprise Partnerships to International MD. The firm also recently hired Melissa Clucas as CFO. More
Brand measurement company On Device Research has appointed Allan Breiland in the new role of Research Director ANZ, tasked with expanding and tailoring its brand measurement solutions across the region. More
Human8 has promoted Amy Perifanos, previously VP of Commercial Solutions North America, to global Chief Portfolio Officer, with a seat on the Global Leadership Team. More
Automated in-home product testing platform Highlight has announced changes to its leadership team, with the appointments of Priyanka Carr as COO and President, and Deirdre Norris as VP of Product. More
In the US. customer experience company Harte Hanks has made permanent the previously Interim CFO role of David Garrison, and appointed David Fisher as Chief Transformation Officer. More
Manchester-based kids, parents and family specialist The Insights Family has secured a £5.6m investment, with which to continue and accelerate its rapid global growth. More
Purchase transaction insight provider Behaviorally has announced the launch of GLADYS, a platform collating and analysing data extracted from the moment of purchase to give clients real-time insights to launch effective packaging designs. More
Insights consultancy Nature has appointed Gareth Joe, formerly Associate Strategy Director at branding agency Principals, as Brand Strategist. More
Denmark-based behaviour analytics software firm iMotions has launched version 10 of its platform, promising 'deeper research possibilities with enhancements for setting up, building and managing studies and study design'. More
MR and analytics group YouGov has promoted Tom Fisher to Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), aiming to deepen its relationships with blue-chip clients. More
Agile research tech and hyper-niche panels firm Borderless Access has appointed Robert Pierson as Head of Business Development for the US and Canada. More
London-based Firefish Group has rebranded its quant and data analytics business the numbers lab as 'Firefish Data', reflecting its evolution into an agency delivering 'fully connected, integrated and agile human insights consulting, driven by AI, connected data and new technologies'. More
A new consulting and advisory firm focused on Net Zero and corporate sustainability has been launched in Denver, Colorado. Canopy Edge's offer will include measurement and strategy for science-based targets, ESG reporting and program management, and advice on messaging. More
Consumer intelligence provider NIQ has joined forces with Databricks to develop a Supply Chain Solution for retail clients, combining the latter's Data Intelligence Platform with the former's Connect / Discover platform to promise more accurate demand forecasting and better personalization. More
Product and behavioral research specialist InsightsNow has appointed Michael Clark as Senior Director of Client Partnerships. More
UK-based food and beverage insights specialist FIS Group has announced the acquisition of Cambridge Market Research, including its Foodfax grocery product assessment database. More
Shanghai-based fieldwork and research services provider Holden Healthcare has welcomed a partner in Korea to its Asia Physician Panel Alliance (APPA). Seoul agency Nownfuture joins existing partners Seed Planning in Japan and The Owl Consulting Company in Taiwan. More
In the USA, retail Voice of the Customer solutions provider First Insight, Inc. has acquired SnapRetail, a digital marketing platform helping retailers and brands to boost in-store traffic and online sales - for an undisclosed sum. Both companies are based in Pittsburg. More
British-based consumer and sensory researcher MMR has appointed Evelyn Huang to head up its qual research in China. More
GfK has completed the sale of its European Consumer Panel Services business (CPS GfK) to YouGov, a divestment required under competition law as part of the German-based global group's merger with retail data giant NIQ. The deal has been valued at around EUR 315m. More
In Worthington, Ohio, consumer data and insights provider Prosper Insights & Analytics has announced a partnership with business data monetization platform DataPostie, which will make smaller bundles of Prosper's data available on demand via a Consumer Insights Marketplace. More
In Pittsburg, USA, retail sector VoC specialist First Insight, Inc. has launched an app called My INSIGHT, promising merchants, designers and planners better understanding of their consumers for purposes including assortment building and rationalization. More
The Insights Family, which provides intelligence focused on kids, parents and families, has relocated its Manchester headquarters to a larger space in the city centre, and has launched in the Republic of Ireland - described as its first 'Tier 2' market. More
Insights group Human8 has announced a change of leadership at its cultural and creative consultancy Space Doctors. Co-founder and MD Fiona McNae will leave the company at the end of this year, after 22 years, to be replaced by Gareth Lewis and Cato Hunt. More
In Minnesota, USA, Stephen Griffiths has joined Post Consumer Brands as Director, Insights & Strategy. More
At fast food chain McDonald's, former VP Global Insights and Analytics Michelle Gansle has been promoted to Chief Data and Analytics Officer. More
Consumer data and analytics firm NIQ has announced the launch of NIQ Labs, an innovation center which it says will 'harness the collective power of top-tier talent and capabilities acquired through strategic M&As'. More
DRNO's News Editor of seventeen years Mel Crowther passed away last week after a battle with cancer. Mel has been a wonderful colleague and the driving force in making this publication what it is today, as well as a well-loved figure in the industry, and I'm sorry I know her loss will come as a shock to a lot of you. More
Consumer insights firm Big Village has launched a platform called Audience Intelligence, promising to help clients understand, target and evaluate consumer and b2b segments. More
Leeds-based MR agency Blue Yonder Research has expanded its team with five appointments: Louise Emmerson and Gabriela Butler as Trainee Research Executives, Tracy Hodgson as Sales and Purchase Ledger, Michael Holmes as Data Analyst and Dario Carvalho as Trainee Field Executive. More
In Chicago, fast-growing agency QualSights has appointed Tod Johnson and Karyn Schoenbart to its Board of Directors. More
New York-based CPG industry customer insight platform Yogi has announced a $10m Series A round of funding, with which to accelerate growth including product development and the expansion of client support. More
Consumer research platform GWI has appointed former OAG tech leader Nick Dearden as CTO, based in its UK headquarters in London. More
Consumer analytics and market intelligence provider NIQ has promoted Elizabeth Buchanan to serve as President of its North American business, based in Chicago. She replaces Jeanne Danubio, who is retiring after 38 years with the business. More
'In The Moment' emotive analytics firm Blue Yonder Research has been granted a patent in the US, UK and Europe for its Clickscape technology, which links measured emotions to specific moments in real time. More
Savanta has announced the acquisition of North American-based shopper insights agency Explorer Research. More
New Zealand-based customer insights platform Ideally has appointed Simon Gawn to lead Australian operations, reflecting its 'ambitious growth strategy'. More
We are 25! On 29th Nov 1998 the first job ad appeared on mrweb.com. We're celebrating with the relaunch of our directories, under a new brand and with an ambitious new approach; and with Thank You's to our regular advertisers and some special offers for new ones. More
UK-based insight and foresight platform Signoi has launched a tool called Personalysis, aimed at transforming data sources such as segmentation reports into lifelike Personas. More
US-based, AI-powered sponsorship analytics platform Relo Metrics has expanded its broadcast viewing and valuation data into the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, as well as Asia Pacific. More
Real-time brand and campaign tracking firm Delineate has announced the expansion of its team in Latin America with the appointments of Netzica Reyes as a Client Insight Director and Andy Davies as Associate Client Director. More
US firm InContext Solutions, which offers 3D simulation software for retail, has launched a behavioral insights prediction model called Arrangement AI, using machine learning and AI prediction models to generate insights for planogram arrangement concepts. More
Consumer experience measurement specialist MESH Experience has appointed former Credos leader Karen Fraser as a Non-Executive Advisor. More
European data collection specialist Norstat has appointed Birgit Aasmäe as Managing Director of its business in Estonia. More
Consumer testing platform Stickybeak, which recruits respondents for testing and research through social media platforms, has partnered with online sample marketplace PureSpectrum to ensure clients can reach 'any consumer niche anywhere in the world'. More
Ipsos has promoted Kirstopher Hull to the new role of Executive Vice President and Senior Client Officer of its North America Consumer Products Segment. More
In the UK, recently opened research agency Disrupt Insight has appointed former Walnut Unlimited exec Holliday Fitch-Peyton as Director. More
Communications specialist MHP Group has launched a brand strategy offer called 'Reverb', building on its expertise in behavioural science to bring together strategy, creative, design and employee engagement. More
Behavioral science consultancy Protobrand has appointed former Nielsen and MarketCast employee Andrew McDonough as Director of Research, based in its Boston office. More
Consumer intelligence business NIQ has launched an omnishopper panel, which exceeds 30,000 Australian households and provides data for around 70 retail banners across a number of sectors. It is underpinned by a mobile consumer rewards app which captures data from 250,000 receipts per month. More
Consumer and sensory research agency MMR has appointed long-time Kantar exec Ansie Collier as Global Innovation Director, working remotely from South Africa. More
In the US, AI-powered sponsorship analytics platform Relo Metrics has launched a solution called 'Relo Census', allowing stakeholders to benchmark performance, identify market trends, and gather real-time competitive intelligence. More
Ipsos has made a number of senior changes, including moving Balaji Pandiaraj to lead Customer Experience for its business in India. Apeksha Jain moves up to Pandiaraj's previous role as Country Service Line Leader, Automotive and Mobility Development (AMD). More
US and European commercial real estate intelligence firm Green Street has acquired London-based Local Data Company (LDC), which provides proprietary data and insights on the British retail and leisure market. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
US-based family entertainment and dining group CEC Entertainment has hired Mark Kupferman as Chief Insights and Marketing Officer for its flagship brand, Chuck E. Cheese and its virtual kitchen brands. He also takes overall responsibility for all insights and research. More
Toluna has confirmed its senior team following the June acquisition of MetrixLab. The firm's Chief Sales, Research, Technology and Financial Officers will remain in role while former MetrixLab Global HR Director Hans Verhulst becomes Chief People Officer and Jolique Weelink Chief Insight Officer. More
Netherlands-based full service agency DVJ Insights has appointed Dijana Justic as Global Director, Marketing Communications. Eline Witteveen, Peter van Drunen and Romeo Ramaekers have also joined the company with the title of Research Expert. More
European data collection group Norstat has handed over management of its research panel in the Republic of Ireland to its newly acquired UK subsidiary Panelbase. More
Consumer data giant Circana has announced an agreement to give clients of marketing tech company The Trade Desk access to its Media Lift solution, providing authenticated audience targeting and multi-retailer measurement. More
UK-based real-time brand and campaign tracking firm Delineate has announced a round of promotions, including Steffan Evans who becomes Production Director in the firm's new Technology and Operations Centre, opened in Wales last month. More
In London, agile consumer insights platform aytm (Ask Your Target Market) has appointed research tech veteran Johnny Caldwell as Client Director, EMEA & APAC, supporting its continuing expansion into global markets. More
Vilnius, Lithuania-based consumer data platform provider Syno International has promoted Mantas Stirbys to serve as its Chief Operating Officer. More
Strategy consultancy The Forge has appointed Laura Halliday as a Director in its Brand Strategy practice, based in London. More
Nielsen has partnered with consumer research platform GWI to launch 'the Nielsen GWI Fusion', promising clients 'more comprehensive insights' into US TV audiences, cross-media behavior and its drivers. More
US research firm SMARI has moved into a new location in the First Internet Bank Building in Downtown Fishers, Indiana. The company is returning to office-based work after a few years 'completely virtual'. More
Palo Alto, CA-based data management company Scenera has agreed to acquire Korean firm TNM AI Co. Ltd., a long-term partner, for an undisclosed amount. More
Cultural intelligence specialist Collage Group has launched an AI-based solution called fluen.ci which it says gives clients 'instant access to culture-centric, brand-specific insights'. More
US shopper insights firm Behaviorally has announced a number of recent promotions, including Sheryl Brie to SVP of Behavioral Qualitative and Paul Markovic to VP of Behavioral Qualitative. Zoe Williams becomes a Desktop Support Engineer, and Cody Fry and Kevin Garcia Insights Analysts. More
Ipsos has reported third quarter revenue of EUR 588m, representing organic growth of 4.3% and restoring year-to-date organic growth after shrinkage in the first half. All the group's global regions shared in the Q3 growth, with EMEA leading the way. More
Insights consultancy Verve has announced six promotions across its European team, including Lydia Martin to Research Director. More
Ipsos has acquired Ireland's Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A), which provides opinion and social research studies, as well as market studies - and will combine it with its own operations in the country to become 'the market research leader in Ireland'. The firm will be known as Ipsos B&A. More
London-based consultancy Thinks Insight & Strategy has reshaped its leadership structure with co-fonder Ben Shimson stepping into the CEO role; and promoted Richenda Devereux to Operations Partner. More
Kantar has announced a 'broad expansion' of AI capabilities within its brand strategy and creative development portfolio. They include Link subscriptions, to help stretch ad testing budgets; celebrity recognition in Link AI testing; predictive eye tracking; big data for threat detection; and help with 'sonic branding'. More
Social media analyst Social Standards has launched a solution called Brand Maps which identifies fast-growing brands - including new entrants to a market which have not yet realised their potential in stores - and profiles their audiences. More
Insight-based consultancy SKIM has named Jeff Haselum as Managing Director, US, based in New York. He replaces fifteen-year company veteran Jeroen Hardon, who after five years leading the US team now returns to HQ to serve as Global Lead, Methodology and Analytics. More
UK-based consumer and B2B researcher 2CV has appointed former Morar HPI and Kadence International exec Phillip Coote as Vice President of New Business. More
Newcastle, UK-based research consultancy differentology has appointed Stuart Tagg as Head of Clients. More
Boston-based MR and behavioral science consultancy Protobrand has appointed Marc Chester as Director of Business Development More
Dublin-based agency RED C Research and Marketing has promoted Jane Dunleavy to Director, and John Rogers to Associate Director. More
In the US, NIQ - once Nielsen's consumer data division - has launched a service measuring sales on social media eCommerce platform TikTok Shop, offering users data on sales volume, value and market share at the brand level. More
Research tech firm SightX has moved its VP Global Commercialization Daryl Maloney McCall to focus on regional growth in Europe and APAC, as its offering and client base in these regions expands. More
British, tech-based insights and data firm Delineate is moving its headquarters to Ceredigion, on the west coast of Wales, and says it will build its team there to some 50 employees. More
In Sydney, Nielsen has partnered with audience tech firm Eyeota and synthetic population modeler RDA Research to offer Australian advertisers and marketers enhanced access to its CMV dataset (Consumer and Media View). More
Swiss-German-based customer experience analyst ISC-CX has announced the promotion of four female employees to director-level positions: Mujinga Muyombo, Márta Jakab, Lorella Graziano and Lama al Rifai. More
In the UK, STRAT7-owned cultural insight and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has appointed Elliot Pigram as its new Global MD. Pigram will take the reins on 1st January next year from founder and CEO Andy Crysell, who will move to the position of non-executive Chair. More
Supermarket giant Tesco and its data division dunnhumby have announced further new features on the Tesco Media & Insight Platform, including ads on 'Scan as You Shop' handsets, product placement options, and collaboration with the ISBA over standardisation of retail media measurement. More
In Manchester, UK, insight agency Mustard has appointed Richard Lomax as Senior Research Manager, Bruna Pani as Digital Marketing Executive, and Grace Tomlinson as Research Executive. More
In Manchester, UK, product intelligence platform Vypr has promoted its CFO Chris Williams to CEO. He replaces founder Ben Davies, who the firm says will maintain a key role in the leadership team as it looks to scale up. More
AI-powered consumer brand tracker.Brox.AI, which was set up earlier this year by two of the creators of YouGov Signal, has raised $1.9m in a seed funding round. More
Boutique agency Intuit Research has partnered with Kantar's Profiles division to launch a syndicated survey called Media DOTS (Media Data on Target Segments), tracking the profile, mindset, media habits and product consumption of the general population (aged 12 to 64) in Hong Kong. More
In Miami, retail markets predictive intelligence platform Daash has closed a $2.75m seed investment round, for use in honing its predictive intelligence platform and scaling go-to-market efforts across multiple CPG categories. More
Panels and behavioral data specialist Netquest has appointed Jordi Guix as Client Solutions Director, signalling 'a new era of strategic growth and innovation', according to the firm. More
UK-based insights and data firm Delineate has promoted Simon Sketchley to the role of Chief Client Officer, covering all aspects of client delivery including insight functions, data services and quality. More
In the US, independent grocer automation software provider Storewise has launched a tool called PriceFind, which delivers access to details about competitors' pricing on hundreds of everyday products, such as common grocery items. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has appointed Adrian Bachmann as Associate Vice President, Consumer Insights for its new Central Canada division. More
CTV and cross-screen advertising company LG Ad Solutions has developed a targeting and measurement solution called LoopIQ, in partnership with consumer purchase insights firm Affinity Solutions. More
In Johannesburg, pan-African data and analytics firm Sagaci Research has announced the launch of SagaCube, a dataset based on regular questioning of consumers in 26 countries across the African continent. More
In the US, strategy and insights firm Quester has launched a brand-building methodology called DRIVE, which the company says 'puts real people and their love and emotional connection to brands at the heart of the creation process'. More
In New York, Horizon Media has appointed Scott Lukas as Senior Vice President of Human Intelligence in its WHY Group, which analyzes culture, people and brands. More
Human insight business One Minute to Midnight has launched a dedicated global quantitative unit called 'One Minute to Midnight & Counting'. More
US-based youth and family researcher Smarty Pants has promoted Danielle Place to the role of Director and Megan Bowling to Senior Analyst. More
Full service research agency mindline has appointed five former execs from consultancy Happy Thinking People, for its new Berlin-based qual unit mindline explore. More
Agriculture and animal health specialist Kynetec has launched a tool which integrates crop protection market data, sourced from growers, with data sources such as macroeconomic indicators, climate data and demographic trends, to provide a multi-faceted view of the agricultural market. More
US-based customer intelligence platform InMoment and digital experience analyst Contentsquare have partnered to help marketing CX teams visualize customer experiences and understand web site and mobile app visitor behavior. More
In the US, consumer purchase insights company Affinity Solutions has appointed Kalyan Lanka as Chief Product Officer. More
London and New York-based customer data and experience specialist Ometria has raised £8m in growth capital, for use in further developing the retail-specific AI capabilities of its platform. More
In the UK, full service agency Kokoro Global has appointed long-time Blue Yonder exec Hannah Rogers as New Business Director. More
New York-based Target Research Group has acquired food intelligence platform Spoonshot, with whom it has collaborated for the last two years developing Foodbrain+, an AI-based innovation and consumer testing tool. More
Ipsos India has appointed Shalini Sinha to lead two of its verticals: Brand Health Tracking (BHT) and Creative Excellence (CRE). She reports to Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos India More
In the UK, consumer and sensory specialist MMR Research has appointed Dan Jenkins as Head of Agile Research, tasked with integrating new technology, including Generative AI, into the company's practices. More
US and Canada-based consultancy Vista Grande has appointed Adam Portner as Senior Vice President, Business Development. More
US-based firm 'Engage3 powered by Dexi' which helps retailers and brands track and optimize their 'Price Image', has promoted Adi Gulati to the role of Chief Financial Officer. More
In India, Kantar has launched a solution called Sensory eValuate, which uses research to help evaluate consumer products using the five human senses. More
Insights-based consulting firm SKIM has opened an office in Paris, France - its fourth location in Europe and tenth worldwide. More
Baltic States-based full-service MR firm RAIT has acquired a 70% stake in Danish research firm Wilke, creating what the firms call a 'truly Northern European network'. More
British supermarket chain Asda has appointed former Aldi exec David Hills as Chief Customer Officer. He takes over from acting Chief Customer Officer Sam Dickson, who will assume responsibility for Asda brand customer propositions with a focus on improving quality perception. More
In the US Circana, the company formed from the merger of IRI and the NPD Group, has launched what it describes as its first 'guided survey solution'. Fast Feedback Guided Surveys taps the consumer insights platform of partner firm Zappi and targets 'small to midsize CPG brands'. More
In Singapore, sensory research specialist MMR has appointed former Reckitt Benckiser and Givaudan insights professional Wanni Xu Sensory Director in its Asian division. More
In Texas, MR and opinion polling firm ReconMR has appointed Christian (Chris) Riepe as SVP of Consumer Insights and Research, leading a newly established Insights and Analytics Division. More
TRA Labs, the ventures arm of Australian insights firm TRA, has partnered with innovation studio Previously Unavailable to launch Ideally, a platform promising 'fast, affordable and accessible customer insights to help bring great ideas to life'. More
Marcoms giant Omnicom has announced an expansion of its partnership with corporate comms group Criteo to encompass digital shelf and other retail data; and a new deal between its OMG media services division and customer data science pioneer dunnhumby. More
Consumer purchasing analyst Behaviorally has appointed Brent Snider as Managing Director, Global Business Development. He joins from Maru where he was President & Chief Revenue Officer. More
Ireland-based publisher and RED C Research owner The Business Post Group has acquired research-based consultancy services provider Relish Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
Automated physical product testing platform Highlight has raised $18m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to accelerate its product roadmap, expand its community of 'Highlighters', and grow its team. More
Kantar has expanded its Worldpanel Central America (CAM) consumer panel to cover the Dominican Republic. The newly enlarged panel measures consumer behaviour across 63% more households in the CariCAM (Caribbean and Central American) region. More
Currys CIO Andy Gamble has invested an undisclosed amount in customer experience (CX) measurement platform Uncrowd, and joined the firm as an advisor, as the company readies for US expansion in the coming months. More
Stagwell-portfolio media agency Assembly, has launched its European Retail Media division, to deliver connected commerce solutions designed to help retail and direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands scale, automate and improve margins at all stages of the consumer journey. More
In New York, shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has hired Thibault Cousot in the new role of SVP Head of Product, leading continual improvement and expansion of the existing product stack. More
In New York, eCommerce enablement and analytics software provider MikMak has acquired ChannelAdvisor's Shoppable Media and Brand Analytics products and team from transaction network CommerceHub. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
CX and insights firm Alida and insights platform Discuss have deepened their partnership to extend the former's qualitative research solutions, adding Discuss's moderator capabilities to Alida's managed service offering in its Video Discussions product. More
US market research firm SMARI has appointed former Research Now and Precision Sample Vice President Pat Goodnight as VP of Business Development, a step change for the 40-year-old company which had previously focused on referrals. More
New York City and London-based data intelligence platform Tracer has closed an oversubscribed $18.1m Series A round of funding. More
Media agency network UM, part of IPG Mediabrands, has launched a tool called Shoptimizer, providing data to help brands allocate budgets, improve measurement, optimize their retail offer and be more agile. More
Berlin and New York-based user and brand research specialist eye square has appointed former Mondelez / Mars exec Chrissy Love as Executive Director, leading the firm's new US Shopper Insights division. More
Netherlands research-based consultancy IR-Insights has appointed long-time media, advertising and insights specialist Paul van der Veer as a Research Consultant. More
Rakuten Insight Global has appointed Darci Greco to its US Sales team as VP Client Development, Americas. More
European data collection company Norstat has promoted Jacob Lagerstedt to Regional Director for International / UK / Ireland, while Janis Romanovs takes over his previous position as Managing Director for Norstat International. More
MENA-focused online research firm Tawasol has launched a fortnightly omnibus called Omniview, promising organizations in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt 'rapid and affordable' market intelligence. More
New York-based cold chain sector business intelligence tool SnoFox has launched out of stealth with $4.5m of seed funding, which it will use to reach new customers in more markets across the US, and to hire new talent. More
In the US, four former execs of new product advisory service Top Box Associates have launched a research agency called Innovate Wisely, focused on new product development. More
UK insight agency Walnut UNLIMITED has named Jane Rudling as its new Managing Director, succeeding Chris Bland. The firm has also appointed two Research Directors - Vanessa Henry to lead its shopper proposition, and Raluca Usery in the Qualitative team. More
In the US, business intelligence solutions firm Prosper Insights & Analytics has launched a tailor-made consumer dataset called the Prosper AI Bundle, to provide companies with the data needed to train predictive and representative machine learning applications. More
Behavioral science insights agency Beesy has hired Brian Jenkin as Business Strategist, Jim Sharp as Head of Product Engineering, Luka Dragutinovic as Compliance Associate, Eileen Miller as Senior Behavioral Association, and Cyndhia Varshni and Shounak Bose as Research Managers. More
Omnicom's media services division OMG has acquired Brazil-based commerce and retail media agencies Outpromo and Global Shopper, each for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, media agency Horizon has added Precisely PlaceIQ movement and location data to its marketing platform 'blu.', allowing brands to connect online and off-line activity and understand what is driving consumers in the physical world. More
UK-based consumer and sensory research agency MMR Research Worldwide has launched what it says is India's first ad hoc sensory panel, for FMCG product research in India. More
Ipsos has announced results for the second quarter of 2023, returning to very modest organic revenue growth thanks to a strong performance in emerging markets. The group says its business is 'returning to a more usual pattern' after Covid and is on course for a good year. More
In the US, retail space-planning and performance analytics software developer Nuqleous has secured $26m in strategic growth investment, and says it will accelerate product innovation and strengthen its customer-led growth. More
Newcastle, UK-based research consultancy Differentology has appointed former Flamingo exec Anniki Sommerville as Strategic Insights Director. She is based in London. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of West African MR agency Omedia, from French audience measurement company Mediametrie. More
In New York, business intelligence platform Polar Analytics has raised $9m in Series A funding, and says it will continue hiring engineers and product designers with the aim of doubling its current headcount of 30 people, in the next eighteen months. More
In the UK, consumer behaviour data company ViewersLogic is partnering with media investment analysis specialist Ebiquity, integrating the data from its Single-Source Data Panel (SSD Panel) with Ebiquity's media optimisation platform. More
London-based mobility intelligence company Huq Industries has raised £4m in equity funding, which will fuel its expansion into new international markets and further development of its Huq Signals platform. More
Ipsos has announced the acquisition of the Insights business of Big Village Australia, including expertise in public sector research, employee research and customer experience. More
In Tampa, Florida, digital signage company Spectrio has paid an undisclosed sum to acquire InReality, which uses radar-based sensing technology to measure and analyse shopper behaviour. More
UK-based consumer intelligence technology company Measure Protocol has appointed Christie Hartbarger as its first Chief Revenue Officer. She is based in Chicago. More
Inventory planning platform Flagship, which delivers customer-focused, data-driven solutions to the retail sector, has raised $5m in a seed funding round. Money will be used to further accelerate development of the firm's first product, and to grow its customer base. More
Ipsos has launched a pack screening tool called FastPack, grounded in behavioural science and promising results in as little as four hours. The tool is currently available on the global group's self-service online MR platform Ipsos.Digital, in the US, the UK, Australia, India and South Africa. More
NielsenIQ (NIQ) and GfK have officially completed their merger, and the combined business will now be led by NIQ CEO, Jim Peck. More
Leeds, UK-based consumer intelligence firm STRAT7 Researchbods has opened an office in New York, its first in the US. Former Echo-MR exec Steve Becker joins to help expand the firm's US operations. More
In the US, behavioral research and strategy firm InsightsNow has appointed Stephen McIngvale as Senior Research Director, Shannon Benson as Research Director, and Joshua Lim as Insights Analyst; while Angel Requena rejoins the company as Project Director. More
GfK has entered into an agreement to sell its European Consumer Panel (CP) business to YouGov, as part of its deal to merge with NielsenIQ (NIQ). Terms of the CP sale have not been disclosed. More
In London, Kantar has hired former eBay / Amazon exec Bérengère Chaintreau-Fuchs for the newly created role of Global Panel Director in its Profiles division. More
In the UK, recently formed digital market research agency Potentia Insight has acquired boutique analytics specialist SigDiff, to enhance its data science capabilities and increase its capacity to fulfil upcoming data analytics projects. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
NielsenIQ (NIQ) and GfK have received clearance from the European Commission to merge, conditional on the divestment of GfK's Consumer Panel business to an independent third party. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the coming days, have not been disclosed. More
Consumer behaviour specialist Circana, formed from the merger of IRI and The NPD Group, has launched a solution called 'AlwaysOn Analytics', allowing clients to analyze real-time data using advanced algorithms, to give immediate insights. More
In London, quick service restaurant sector (QSR) samples and activation platform Geezy X has appointed Dan Jenner as Head of Global Partnerships, overseeing global business operations, while promoting Ryan Drager to Head of Growth. More
Insights tech and panel provider Toluna has added four standalone MaxDiff solutions to its end-to-end platform, Toluna Start, allowing clients to integrate a MaxDiff question into their surveys and quickly identify which names, taglines, claims and varieties matter most to their target audiences. More
Singapore-based automated location intelligence platform SpotQuest has partnered with hospitality agency The Cutting Edge to launch two services in the Middle East market: a tool called Food and Beverage Location Intelligence, and a Menu Price Benchmarking AI platform. More
In Canada, programmatic advertising platform StackAdapt has launched a self-service footfall attribution solution, allowing US-based brick and mortar advertisers to quantify the influence of online advertising on offline visits. More
Tesco-owned data firm dunnhumby has appointed Josh Bottomley as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Dan Olley who had been in the post only since January 2022. More
In the US, sponsorship measurement specialist MVP Index has raised $20m in a Series B round of funding, which it will use to fuel expansion plans, accelerate product innovation, and strengthen its sales and marketing efforts. More
Brand and marketing insights company Shapiro+Raj has appointed Herminder Bains as Vice President, Head of Global Client Services. She is based in London. More
In the UK, behavioural insights agency Canvas8 has launched 'Toolkit' - a suite of five products for 'fast turnarounds, agility and affordability'. Leading the launch is Becca Smith, who has been named 'Head of Toolkit'. More
In the US, retail marketing company Neptune Retail Solutions is to acquire and merge with digital promotions and media tech firm Quotient. The transaction has an aggregate equity value of approximately $430m. More
Austin, Texas-based MR software and services firm QuestionPro has acquired PathosAI, which analyses consumer emotions and motivations. More
US broadcaster Fox Corporation has appointed long-time FOX Sports executive Mike Mulvihill, as President, Insights and Analytics, a new role overseeing the research, analytics and strategic planning teams across FOX Sports, FOX Entertainment and Tubi. More
Northumberland, UK-based insight agency DRG (Dipsticks Research Group) has appointed Eleanor Finnon to its Board of Directors; promoted Gary Chow to Client Services Director; and appointed Tim Raglan as Client Account Manager for Panelbase. More
Consumer intelligence giant NielsenIQ (NIQ) has expanded its Brandbank solution into the UAE and the Philippines, strengthening its global retailer distribution network via collaborations with major omnichannel retailers including Spinneys and NCCC. More
Affinity Solutions, which analyzes consumer spending data to help clients with their targeted marketing initiatives, has added its Consumer Purchase Insights as a central offering on the Snowflake Marketplace. More
MrWeb has partnered with insight sector organisation GreenBook, publisher of the GRIT Report and the GreenBook Directory, and organiser of IIEX events, to further expand the reach and appeal of its job board, currently in its 25th year. WIRe (Women in Research) and ESOMAR are already partners. More
UK insight agency Walnut Unlimited has appointed Yasmin Ramikie and Elaine Thompson as Research Directors, and Bethan Crisp as Associate Director in the Qualitative team. More
Havas Media Network (HMN) has rolled out its CSA consumer behavior specialist business across its global network, promising clients improved understanding of customer data and higher ROI through analytics and machine learning solutions. More
In London, custom MR agency Tapestry Research has appointed Hana Hussein, Rebecca Munns and Danielle Robertson as Research Managers. More
WPP's consumer data specialist Wavemaker has appointed Sindhuja Rai as Chief Executive Officer in Asia Pacific, based in Singapore. She takes up the role in September, when she will also join the Wavemaker Global Executive team and the GroupM APAC Leadership team. More
Nigeria-based MR and strategy firm Pierrine Consulting has officially opened offices in Kenya and Ghana, to support clients in the East and West African regions. More
US CRM giant Salesforce is launching two tools - Marketing GPT and Commerce GPT - to help users personalize every campaign and shopping experience with generative AI. More
Consumer behaviour specialist Circana, formed from the merger of IRI and The NPD Group, has appointed Anne Bramman as Chief Financial and Growth Officer and a member of its executive leadership team. She starts on June 20th. More
In the US, consumer data and intelligence specialist Resonate has launched an AI modeling infrastructure called rAI, transforming massive amounts of raw data into continuously updated attributes allowing users to understand some 230 million consumers. More
Agriculture and animal health specialist Kynetec has acquired MQ Solutions, which provides a monthly price and retailer monitoring service, tracking farmgate prices from dealers of crop protection and crop nutrition products in Brazil. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based consumer insights firm Touchstone Research (TSR) has promoted Jillian Brangi and Nicole Mowry to Senior Project Director roles in its Quantitative Research division. More
US-headquartered shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has announced that Yolanda Yao has re-joined the company as Director, Customer Success, based in its office in Shanghai, China. More
In the US, real-time product pricing, promotions and assortment data provider Datasembly has raised $16m in funding, which it will use to bring new tools to the market. More
New York print and digital publisher Dotdash Meredith (DDM) has launched an ad targeting tool called D/Cipher, facilitating intent-based targeting at scale without cookies. More
Winsight, which provides market intelligence and other information to the global restaurant, non-commercial foodservice and convenience retail industries, has been acquired by London-based Informa, from HPS Investment Partners. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Former Illuminas MD Frank Ma has launched a qualitative research business called One16 in Singapore, focusing on market / user exploratory studies, concept testing, post-launch tracking and UX research. More
US-based shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has made three senior promotions: Joe Corace and Grant Montague to Senior Vice President in Chicago and the UK respectively, and Jenna Cippoletti to Director, Client Development in New York. More
In Australia, supermarket retailer Coles is appointing Amanda McVay as its first Chief Customer Officer. She will join the company on 13 June. More
In the US, insights and strategy consulting firm M/A/R/C Research has acquired Horowitz Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
SAM Sensory and Consumer Research has appointed Pushan Tagore as Managing Director, Germany. He replaces Sebastian Graper who will focus on further developing SAM's qualitative research capabilities as International Director Qualitative and Co-Creation. More
SAM Sensory and Consumer Research has acquired UK-based sensory and product research specialist PPL Insights, for an undisclosed sum. More
North of England-based full service agency Blue Yonder Research has hired Elspeth Bradley for the newly created position of Qualitative Insight Director. More
In New York, consumer insights specialist MRI-Simmons has received continuing Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation for its consumer study, including the Doublebase USA study and MEMRI analytics tool; and a new accreditation for its Insights Platform. More
US-headquartered shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has expanded its Chicago team with the appointment of Julie Jimoh as Vice President, Client Development. She takes over from Joe Corace, who has been promoted to SVP. More
In the US, customer experience specialist Zendesk has launched a solution called 'Conversational Commerce', to connect brands with shoppers and their experiences throughout their digital journeys. More
Circana, recently formed from the merger of consumer data and insights firms Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and The NPD Group, has appointed long-time Ford exec Amy Marentic as President, Global Solutions. She succeeds Nishat Mehta who is leaving after six years with the firm. More
Marketing intelligence provider MiQ has launched a shopper intelligence solution called Consumer Link, combining transaction, media consumption, geo-contextual and behavioral data in a single platform, allowing the creation of personalized campaigns throughout the shopper journey. More
Kantar has launched an 'always-on' brand performance tracker called BrandNow, delivering daily benchmarks and short-term forecasts for 25 product and service categories. The solution is initially available for tracking US and UK markets. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has expanded its Amplify ad development system, co-developed by consumer brands including PepsiCo, McDonald's and Reckitt, to help marketers optimize and validate their digital and TV advertisements at every stage of the creation process. More
Former Behaviorally exec Francesca Sussman has rejoined the company as Vice President of TransactionPath Consultancy, which helps clarify the path-to-purchase and decision drivers in a category to understand the moments that influence consumer choice. More
Australia-based consumer data company Pureprofile has expanded its research panel through a partnership with AsiaPacific shopping rewards and payments platform ShopBack. Shoppers can earn cashback by completing surveys. More
Data collection company Norstat has launched an initiative called 'Norstat Quarterly Data', reporting on the views of consumers from fifteen countries across Europe. More
In the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is launching a shopping prices comparison tool, to allow users to track average price trends of items relevant to them. More
In the US, data-driven marketing company Stirista has acquired lifecycle marketing tech firm Customer Portfolios, for an undisclosed sum. More
Retailer John Lewis Partnership has appointed former Tesco exec Emily Wells as its first pan-Partnership Head of Loyalty. The company has also teamed up with Tesco-owned data science firm dunnhumby and loyalty specialist Eagle Eye to deepen its relationships with its 20 million customers. More
Consumer intelligence business NIQ, previously known as NielsenIQ, has launched a solution called Omnisales in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Great Britain, integrating its data assets across point-of-sale (POS) retail measurement data, and Foxintelligence's online purchase data. More
Following the news that it filed for bankruptcy in February, US-based ad tech and data company Big Village has sold its Insights and Agency business units to holding company Bright Mountain Media for approximately $20m. More
In Manchester, UK, former Insights Family product chief Jonathan Watson has today launched a new insight platform focused on the food and drink sectors, with tools covering brand and media tracking, consumer profiling and trend-spotting, backed by 1,000 shopper interviews each month. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has appointed Brad Martinez as Programming & Data Visualization Specialist and Rachel Lenz has a Project Director, while promoting Emily Trentacosta to VP of Strategy & Insights. The firm has also promoted six other employees. More
Ipsos has reported a 2.9% drop in Q1 revenues to EUR 532m, with organic decline of 2.8%. The firm had said when presenting its 2022 annual results that it anticipated a 'tougher first quarter'. The total is still 26% up on the figure for Q1 2019, pre-Covid, and Ipsos says it expects annual growth of c.5%. More
In the US, consumer purchase insights company Affinity Solutions has launched an intelligence platform called Comet, which uses consumer purchase signals to help marketers plan, activate and measure media. More
UK-based insights and data firm Delineate has announced the return of its former Business Development Director Tony Pelham to the company as Commercial Director. More
In the US, digital analytics platform Amplitude has appointed former Microsoft exec Nathaniel Crook as Chief Revenue Officer. He takes over from Matt Heinz, who is leaving in mid-May, after a hand-over period. More
Consumer insight provider Human8, until recently known as InSites Consulting, has expanded its services to the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, where Senior Business Director Kurt Thompson will lead activies from Dubai, UAE. More
Insite AI, which develops software to help consumer brands optimize their in-store pricing, assortment, placement and forecasting, has appointed former Coca-Cola exec Capri Brixey as Executive Vice President, Strategy Consulting. More
Luxury markets specialist Altiant has expanded its Millionaire Media Consumption Subscription service to Hong Kong and Singapore. More
YouGov has appointed Meta Platforms exec Steve Hatch as Chief Executive Officer from 1st August. He will take over from co-founder Stephan Shakespeare, who will become Non-Executive Chair, replacing Roger Parry. More
US Hispanic and multicultural markets research specialist ThinkNow has launched proprietary panel management software called ThinkNow Base. More
US-based insights and strategic consulting firm M/A/R/C has appointed Michelle Sugent, Sarah Eaton and Sara Cerra as Directors, while Sherry Mohanty joins as Client Support Manager, Matt Ruppe as Client Support Director, and Tyler Konan as Director of Development. More
In Ireland, RED C has hired long-time Kantar exec Robin McGhee as a Director, to focus on qual research and further developing the group's strategic planning offer. Meanwhile two other former Kantar execs, Aya Sako and Patrick McHugh, are also joining the team. More
In London, customer data science specialist dunnhumby has appointed Ben Burdsall as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), leading the global engineering function which is responsible for the design, build and operation of technology solutions. More
New York-based market intelligence platform Native AI has raised $3.5m in a seed funding round, to expand its services helping brands to digitally clone their target customers into test groups, ask them questions and instantly get actionable recommendations. More
In the US, qual MR recruitment specialist Focus Insite has promoted Stephanie Tatum to Director of the Consumer Division, Elisa Garcia and Ruth Lasley to Project Manager, and Haley McInturff and Sarah Smith to Assistant Project Manager. More
Kantar has announced a new growth strategy for the APAC region; launched a tailored platform in China; and plans to quadruple the size of its Indian panel. More
GfK and price intelligence company Minderest have partnered to provide retailers and manufacturers with a 'comprehensive overview' of current prices in their markets, as well as recommendations for price adjustments, using the latter firm's smart updating online shelf price information. More
In Canada, foodservice market analytics specialist Brizo Data has raised $12m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to accelerate growth and expand into new markets. More
Global insight and customer analytics group STRAT7 has acquired UK-based strategy, insight and planning consultancy Rainmakers CSI for an undisclosed sum. The company will be integrated into Incite, which STRAT7 acquired in 2021. More
Consumer data science specialist dunnhumby has appointed Prithvesh Katoch as Head of dunnhumby India, where the company employs more than 730 professionals. He adds the role to his existing position as Global Head of Client Data Services. More
US consumer insights provider MRI-Simmons and Spanish-language media company TelevisaUnivision have partnered to enable advertisers to use the former's psychographic and behavioral consumer variables, including insights into English and Spanish-speaking Hispanics. More
Marketing and communications agency Allison+Partners has launched a multicultural marketing offering called M365, comprising a team with expertise in 'ensuring diverse consumer groups are seen, heard and valued every day of the year'. More
In the US, Ipsos has partnered with video feedback platform Discuss to enhance its offering in live virtual feedback and fast online qual, among other areas. More
Toronto-based eCommerce analytics platform Birdseye has raised $500k in a pre-seed round of funding, which it will use to expand its engineering team and continue developing its AI-powered technology. More
Paris-based OpinionWay has appointed long-time BVA execs Lea König and Truong Nguyen as joint leaders of its new Mystery Shopping Luxury division, while Sophie Archambot Corbière joins from Strategir to take over the management of the Corporate & Marketing Luxury division. More
Retail intelligence provider EDITED has raised $15m in growth funding, which it will use for further product development, to invest in partnerships, and for 'opportunistic' mergers and acquisitions. More
Shopper insights firm Behaviorally has hired Laura Drysdale as its first Chief Product Officer. She is based in the firm's New York hub. More
Ipsos has launched a set of specialized, end to-end innovation solutions for Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), which it says will fuel development and optimization at any stage of the product life cycle. More
In the UK, consumer and sensory research agency MMR Research has partnered with conversational AI company Nexxt Intelligence, to integrate the latter's inca SmartProbe API service into its consumer surveys. More
Global insights and media agency Hotspex has acquired a majority stake in Shanghai-based brand insight, strategy and innovation consultancy The Silk Initiative (TSI). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
UK-based consumer research platform Attest has appointed Sana Ayub as Chief Financial Officer, Anne Katrine Vestergaard Jensen as Vice President of Marketing, and Ilhan Mehmet as Vice President of People. More
British Out-Of-Home (OOH) measurement body Route has issued an invitation for partners to design a measurement system for out-of-home advertising on posters and screens across Great Britain. More
In the UK, consumer and B2B agency 2CV has promoted Ruth Noble to the role of Head of Quantitative Research; while Hannah Davies will now lead the Life & Style division and James Maxfield the Financial Services division. More
In New York, data-led creative agency Formerly Knowns As (FKA) has appointed Linsey Loy as Chief Growth Officer. More
Consumer and B2B agency 2CV has promoted Karine Pepin to SVP and Head of Quant, and Amy Spencer to SVP and Head of Qual. The pair are based in San Francisco, and now jointly lead the firm's US offices. More
In Germany, European data collection company Norstat has appointed former Schlesinger Group exec Ivana Slukan as Head of Qualitative. More
In the US, recently merged consumer data and insights firms Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and The NPD Group have named the combined company 'Circana', which CEO Kirk Perry says conveys the business's 360-degree, full-circle understanding of the consumer and market. More
In New York, Ipsos' brand and marketing advisory unit Strategy3 has promoted Philip Ryan to the role of US Managing Partner, and Service Line Head. More
In New York, former Qualtrics exec Kimberly Bastoni has joined consumer insights tech firm Suzy as its first Chief Revenue Officer. More
In London, creative and technology company MSQ has hired Anna-Lee Bridgstock - formerly Director of Data, Intelligence and Planning at social media publisher LADbible - for the new role of Partner of Analytics & Insight in its Freemavens division. More
In the UK, personalised beauty shopping marketplace Sourcerie has raised £1.8m in a pre-seed round of funding, which it will use to continue to build its tech platform and personalisation software for consumer skin, hair and body care consumers and brands. More
NielsenIQ, the consumer intelligence business which split away from its Media wing two years ago this month and is now combining with GfK, has rebranded as NIQ. Accompanying this, the firm says it is undergoing 'a significant transformation' and is committed to providing the 'Full View' of global consumers. More
MrWeb's RAIDAR real-time ranking of top companies operating in analytics, insight and data is now fully operational, and you'll see financial results, CEO changes and other items from tonight's Daily Research News reflected in tomorrow's top 40. More
Shopper insights firm Behaviorally has appointed Francis He as Vice President, Market Development, based in Shanghai and servicing clients across Asia. More
London-based Zipzero, which rewards consumers for sharing any shopping receipt via an app, has raised £1m in seed funding, which it will use to further develop its platform and its partnerships with retailers and brands. More
Savanta has promoted Danielle Rodriguez to Chief Commercial Officer and Mark Martins to Chief Services Officer, both with seats on the firm's global Board and both retaining existing roles and responsibilities in addition. More
Shopper insights firm Behaviorally has extended its TransactionPath suite with the launch of two new services, ShelfPath and DecisionPath, designed to understand 'New Retail' consumers shopping seamlessly across physical, social and other digital channels. More
In the UK, kids, teens, parents and family market intelligence specialist The Insights Family has made eight new hires across its Technology, Research, Customer Success and Support divisions - as well as four promotions. More
Behavioral research firm InsightsNow has hired Brian Briskey for the newly created role of Senior Director of Strategic Consulting, supporting the company's work setting strategic direction for innovation, brand and product development teams. More
In the UK, consumer insights provider dunnhumby has launched a tool called Revenue Growth Planner, to enable consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands to forecast the sales impact of changes to a product's pricing and promotional strategy. More
In London, shopper insights specialist Behaviorally has appointed long-time PRS IN VIVO exec Aurélie Lecarpentier as Vice President, Head of Behavioral Qualitative, Europe. More
Canadian marketing services and data firm Environics Analytics (EA) has partnered with consumer and audience insights company Vividata to launch a database called Opticks Digital, designed to provide a multi-channel view of the online Canadian consumer. More
In the UK, behavioural science consultancy The Behavioural Architects (TBA) has appointed Atticus Research founder Matt Dobbin and former Facebook researcher Andrew Goll as Directors. More
Manchester, UK-based full service MR agency Mustard has promoted Molly Hilton and Joe Stanley to Research Manager roles, while hiring Emma France as Senior Research Executive, and adding Izzy Tooze and Nadja Moncolova to its graduate scheme. More
Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally is opening a new hub in Sydney, and has appointed former TNS and Colgate-Palmolive exec Lauren Kurensky to lead it. More
Consumer and sensory research agency MMR Research Worldwide has announced the opening of a facility in Wokingham, Berkshire, designed to help FMCG firms improve their pack and product experience. More
German-based pricing analyst Simon-Kucher has announced revenue of EUR 534.9m for 2022, up 21% year-on-year. The company has also unveiled a new brand identity based around 'Unlocking better growth'. More
Ipsos has reported 2022 annual revenue up 12% to EUR 2.4 bn, representing organic growth of 5.6%. In the final quarter of the year, the business grew by 8.8%, including nearly 4% organic growth. More
US-headquartered shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has appointed long-time Nielsen exec Delphine Ferrazzi as a Consultant, based in its Paris office. More
In France, consumer intelligence business NielsenIQ has promoted Emilie Darolles to the role of Managing Director for Western Europe and International Global Clients. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has hired Ashley D'Annunzio for the newly created role of Director of Qualitative, while Shelbi Webb joins as a Project Director. More
Media conglomerate News Corp Australia has launched a research and intelligence service called The Growth D_Stillery, offering consumer insights to help marketers meet brand challenges, anticipate consumer trends and understand where best to invest. More
Conversation AI and automation specialist Uniphore has acquired Hexagone, which combines various voice, visual and text-based data to provide insights into human behavior. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, The Insights Family has hired Voxpopme co-founder Tom Williams as Chief Growth Officer, while moving Clive Maudsley to the role of COO. Founder Nick Richardson moves to Chief Strategy Officer, following the appointment of Rachel Bardill to lead the Marketing and Partnerships team. More
Consumer behaviour specialist ViewersLogic has launched a panel to measure individuals' media consumption, TV and digital ad exposure, online and off-line purchases, and location data over time, 24/7. More
London-based immersive product shopping platform Situ Live has raised £1m in an investment round, which it will use to further develop its technology and increase sales and marketing activity. More
US-based shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has opened its first West Coast office in Los Angeles, where it has appointed Simon Wyld as Senior Vice President and Daniel (Danny) Rodriguez as Director. More
In London, agencies See Research and Sherbert Research have partnered to combine See's global MR operations with Sherbert's specialism in kids, youth and family research. More
Swiss data service provider Redslim and UK-based analytics company Interrodata have partnered, to help execs at CPG and retail industry organisations draw insights from multiple data sources, and receive a personalized view of business performance. More
In Australia, mystery shopping agency Lonergan has acquired Prime Auto Mystery Shopping and qual recruitment agency Ava Research, boosting its mystery shopper numbers to 40,000 nationally and its qual database to more than 70,000 respondents. Terms of the deals have not been disclosed. More
Kantar has acquired Copenhagen, Denmark-based shopper data specialist Kauza, for an undisclosed sum. More
Kantar has added a price sensitivity module to its Concept eValuate suite, to help brands identify the ideal price range for new products. More
Behavioural science research and consulting agency PRS IN VIVO, in collaboration with sister agency BVA BDRC, is expanding its services in the APAC region, through the opening of a new office in Australia. More
Australia-based strategic insights consultancy Nature has appointed John Crowley as a Director in its Sydney office. More
Australia-based consumer data firm Pureprofile has announced revenue up 21% to $AUD 12.8m for the quarter ended 31st December, the second of its fiscal year 2023. More
In New York, shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has launched PackPath, a qualitative suite which taps 'the world's largest behavioral pack design database' to predict the potential of pack designs to grow clients' in-market sales. More
Shopper behaviour specialist Kantar Worldpanel has promoted Francisco Luna to Country Manager, leading the division in Mexico. More
Big Village, the ad tech and data company formerly known as ENGINE, has appointed Jeron Hernandez as VP Client Development, based in Chicago. More
In the US, behavioral science and MR consultancy Protobrand has appointed former employee Pal Marton Afzelius to Chief Executive Officer, taking over from founder and Chairman Anders Bengtsson. More
In Australia, Kantar has expanded its Commercial and Sustainability leadership teams with four senior appointments. Ryan France is increasing his brand strategy role to lead the company's Sustainability practice, while Kim Ruyten will implement the company's ESG capability. More
In New York, QR code customer engagement platform Beaconstac, which businesses use to acquire first-party data, has raised $25m in a Series A round of funding, which will help to further develop its technology and expand its team. More
Global online communities specialist InSites Consulting has acquired Munich-based MR and innovation consultancy Happy Thinking People, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the UK, long-time BBC Children's exec Rachel Bardill has joined kids, teens, parents and family market intelligence provider The Insights Family, to lead its Marketing and Partnerships team. She is based in Manchester. More
As of today, you can filter MrWeb's recently-launched real-time ranking of top companies providing MR, insights, data and analytics activities, to include just one type (eg Full Service) or one headquarters country. Another ten firms have been assessed and added, making it a top 40. More
In New York, insights and analytics company Consumer Edge has raised $60m in equity financing, which it will use to accelerate product expansion and drive its mergers and acquisitions strategy. More
Consumer data giant IRI has appointed former Amazon exec Florian Clemens as Vice President of Advertisers & Agencies EMEA, tasked with growing the company's media business across Europe. He is based in London. More
UK-based consumer intelligence platform QuMind has launched a feature which applies MaxDiff analysis to help companies align their products and services with what matters most to their customers. More
In the UK, insights agency Blue Marble has hired Olivier Boelman and Amelie Treppass as Research Directors and Brigid Eades as a Research Executive, following strong growth in 2022. More
In between paying nine-figure fines and settlements, Meta has found time to strike a deal with IRI which will allow the consumer data giant to link ad campaigns on Instagram and Facebook to US retail sales at the brand and product level. 'Ansa' also allows for campaign targeting and optimization. More
More than two years after first announcing its Nielsen One cross-platform measurement solution, and a year after the start of 'Alpha' testing, Nielsen says it is ready for a full launch of the first elements next week. More
Cincinnati, Ohio-based insights and analytics firm Directions Inc. has promoted Elizabeth (Beth) Finn to Chief Client Officer, leading the account team and overseeing the firm's client relationships and engagements. More
Purchasing behavior specialist Behaviorally has hired Gustavo Alvarez to launch a Latin American hub in Mexico City. More
That's it for another year from DRNO - our next issue will be for January 3rd 2023. Our very best wishes for a Merry Christmas to all those of you celebrating it, a Happy New Year to all readers, and a big Thank You as ever for your support and feedback in 2022. More
Today we're launching RAIDAR. Like an industry top 30 companies list, but instead of publishing it once a year, we'll update it every day based on yesterday's DRNO stories and other company data; show our workings; include companies never before considered; and allow sorting by a long list of criteria. More
Monterrey, Mexico-based promotion and pricing optimization specialist Kuona has raised $6m in seed funding, which it will use to expand its presence in key locations including Latin America, Europe and the US. More
Manchester, UK-based experiential field marketing agency Splatter Connect has launched a tool called FIELD CONNECT, which can be used to collect data in real time from field visits to retail outlets. More
Consumer intelligence platform ProfitWheel has raised $1.2m in a pre-series A round of funding, building on a $3m seed round last year. The funding will be used to expand in the US and other global markets, and to hire for its sales and customer success teams. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has raised $170m in growth capital, which it will use to expand data sets across new markets, verticals and categories; power its platform innovation with emerging technologies; and continue expanding its team globally. More
Customer data science pioneer dunnhumby has appointed Matt O'Grady as its President for the Americas region, a newly created role responsible for delivering growth across the two continents, reporting direct to CEO Dan Olley. More
US-based strategic consultancy and MR firm KS&R has appointed Kathleen McKnight and Dan Conners to its Board of Directors. More
Tesco and dunnhumby have announced the next phase of the Tesco Media & Insight Platform, with new onsite and in-store media channels, and a self-serve capability. More
Dan Olley, CEO of Tesco-owned customer data specialist dunnhumby, is joining financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown in the Chief Exec role. A dunnhumby spokesperson told DRNO that Olley will continue as dunnhumby CEO until a successor is appointed in the coming months. More
In the US, data science-driven retail planning solutions provider Invent Analytics has raised $7.5m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to continue its expansion in North America and Western Europe, and to invest in its AI-powered solutions. More
In the US, full service shopper behavior specialist Alter Agents has appointed Heather O'Shea as Chief Research Officer, and Casey Willard as Chief Analytics Officer, while promoting Eddie Francis to the role of Chief Operating Officer. More
Chicago-based QualSights has launched a platform called 'Product Consumption Intelligence', to passively measure behavior in the home. More
Consumer research platform Catalyx has appointed Jenny Kieras, formerly of The Insights Family, as Global Head of Accounts. More
Chicago-based in-store retail media platform Cooler Screens has appointed long-time dunnhumby exec Artem Lavrinovich as Chief Data and Product Officer. More
Australian customer insights and advisory consultancy Fiftyfive5 has been acquired by professional services giant Accenture for an undisclosed sum. More
In Australia, data collection agency TKW Research Group has acquired mystery shopping specialist Retail Reality, for an undisclosed sum. More
UK-based consumer intelligence platform QuMind has launched a solution called Dynamic StoryBoards, to help clients bring context-rich insights into 'one clear visual'. More
Chicago-based consumer insight specialist Numerator has added LGBTQ+ demographic attributes to its Numerator Insights platform, which provides access to a further 2,500 demographic, psychographic and media consumption attributes that consumers share directly with Numerator. More
On-demand data collection service Shepper has launched a solution allowing UK retailers and marketers to check how products and promotions are being offered in physical stores, within a day of briefing, and with insight reports returned in under 48 hours. More
Kids, teens, parents and family market intelligence provider The Insights Family has appointed Clive Maudsley as Managing Director, replacing Will Pearce, who had held the position for less than a year. Meanwhile founder Nick Richardson is stepping down from as CEO to focus on specific areas. More
Ipsos has announced the sale of its people-counting and footfall solution Retail Performance, to US-based RetailNext, in which it will take a minority stake. More
In the US, machine learning-based retail database Luz, built for market research, competitor tracking and product development, has been renamed Particl. The firm has also raised $8.5m in a Series A round of investment, which it says it will use to 'disrupt' the MR sector. More
Netherlands-based full service agency DVJ Insights has opened an office in Helsingborg, Sweden, servicing global and local clients in the Nordic region and led by Client Consultants Pontus Egnér and Henrik Dieden. More
Information services and data analytics firm Creditntell has acquired grocery sector research and data provider MTN Retail Advisors. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, sensory and consumer research agency MMR Research Worldwide has appointed former long-time Kantar execs Simon Quirk, as Head of its Oxfordshire-based Research team, and Phil Jones, as Global Account Director in London. More
Consumer sensory insights specialist MMR Research has opened a new 'ASEAN sensory hub' facility in the Pasir Panjang area of Singapore. More
UK full service agency Boxclever has appointed Amy Thomson as Qualitive Research Director in London, while Alison Gilbertson joins as Analytics Research Director, based in the firm's Leeds headquarters. More
In the US, consumer data analytics company Lytics has appointed long-time Webtrends exec Jeff Seacrist as Senior Vice President, Product & Product Marketing. More
US-based company Vizit, which captures consumers' interactions with online commercial imagery to generate models of their visual preferences, has raised $10m in a Series A round of funding. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based brand tracking and consumer science specialist Nepa has appointed Sonja Thorngren as Chief Financial Officer, following the recent resignation of Ann-Christine Fick. Thorngren will join the company and the group management team on 6th February next year. More
In the US, experience management group Momentive has launched a solution for its SurveyMonkey platform, which it says will help product managers, marketers, insights professionals, pricing managers and other professionals determine the optimal price point of a product in hours. More
In the US, customer experience (CX) intelligence platform DISQO has released its first 'Brand and Outcomes Lift Industry Benchmarks' report, offering normative data on the full-funnel effectiveness of ad campaigns. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has acquired US research company 360 Market Reach, which works across the CPG, retail, health and wellness, luxury and travel sectors. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Australia-based consumer data company Pureprofile has promoted Anna Meiler to the newly created role of Managing Director, APAC Data & Insights, while former Dynata exec Martin Tomlinson joins as Country Manager for New Zealand. More
Israel-based near real-time consumer insights provider Revuze has raised $12m in a round of growth investment, supported by NPD Group's former CEO and Chair. Proceeds will be used for expansion into the US, to scale technology, and to continue to innovate. More
In Australia, research and brand strategy consultancy Pollinate has opened new offices in two state capitals, Brisbane and Adelaide. More
In the US, Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School has integrated iMotions' biosensor research platform to launch an on-campus human behavior lab called X-Lab, which is dedicated to advancing academic research and integrating it into the school's curriculum. More
Raleigh, NC-based location intelligence specialist Reveal Mobile has enhanced two of the attribution reports available in its geofencing platform VISIT Local, to enable marketers to estimate in-store sales and return on ad spend. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insights business Vypr has raised an additional £3.4m, which it will use to scale its product intelligence platform and consumer app, and invest in its commercial and product teams. More
Insight firm MetrixLab has added a hybrid AI-powered tool called PACT Instant to its suite of packaging design testing solutions, promising in-depth evaluation of existing and new designs with results in as little as 48 hours. More
Digital promotions and media tech company Quotient has rolled out its European grocery savings app Shopmium in the US, promising clients the ability to increase brand trial and loyalty while measuring online and off-line shopper interactions. More
AI-based retail, CPG and supply chain planning platform Impact Analytics has raised $10m in a round of growth funding, which it will use to continue expanding its retail solution suite, and scale its customer success, sales and marketing organizations in the US, EMEA and Asia. More
Ipsos has reported a 14.3% increase in reported third quarter revenue, to EUR 601.5m from EUR 526.3m a year earlier. Organic revenue growth was 5.3%, while 8.0% resulted from currency effects. More
In the US, data platform Crisp and in-store retail marketing and trade promotions agency Promomash have partnered, to launch a new solution allowing CPG brands to access and analyze actual product sales, shipment and trade spend data in one place. More
Culture, community panels and smart digital research specialist Verve has appointed seven new graduates at its office in Manchester and headquarters in London. More
Field Agent, which provides store-level audits, shopper insights and product trial solutions, has acquired distributed workforce management platform SimpliField for an undisclosed sum. More
In New York, Banyan, which offers services such as automated expense management, fraud reduction and shopping offer development using item-level receipt data, has raised $43m in a Series A round of funding. More
In New York, purchasing behavior specialist Behaviorally has launched the PackPower Score, a one-number predictor of the sales impact of new packaging designs. More
New York-based end-to-end consumer insights platform Suzy has announced a number of product enhancements including the addition of video open-ends, Max Diff choice rankings, and an integrated data visualisation tool, Data Explorer. More
Full service B2B research-focused Australian agency ACA Research has announced five new hires: Senior Account Managers Phil Newbold and Natasha Burnley; Account Manager Melissa Borg, Account Executive Paj Johnstone and Graduate Researcher Angus McLachlan. More
Ipsos has promoted twenty-year company veteran Lauren Demar to Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Head of ESG. More
Brand measurement firm On Device Research has appointed Syutra Permatasari as Account Director for Dubai and the MENA region, charged with growing its advertising effectiveness solutions and other offers in UAE and beyond. More
CTV and omnichannel media measurement and planning specialist EMX by Big Village has partnered with Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) to make Kroger's retail sales data available to advertisers through its Data Connected Private Marketplace (DCPMP) offering. More
In the US SmartCommerce, a provider of data-centric, AI-assisted solutions for CPG and related industries, has paid an undisclosed sum to acquire eCommerce optimization and category/channel insights specialist Basketful. More
The shareholders of northern European research firms RAIT, Dive and Intra have agreed to move the companies under a new holding company called STATCO. Ownership and branding of the individual businesses will remain unchanged. More
Insights group MetrixLab is opening a second UK office, in Manchester, and appointed three people to work in it: Cecily Crawley joins as a Team Lead and Richard Lomax as an AD, while recent joiner Sam Smith will move from remote working. Three more positions are being recruited. More
Canada-based holding company Rival Group has appointed long-time Mintel exec Shawn Vaughn as Chief Growth Officer, leading Go-To-Market teams across both its mobile-first insight community platform Rival Technologies and its experiential insight specialist Reach3 Insights. More
Ad tech and data company Big Village (formerly known as Engine) is to add visualization technology from customer experience and research tech firm Forsta to its CARAVAN Omnibus Surveys, allowing clients to create results presentations for sharing with exec teams and stakeholders. More
Australia-based strategic insights consultancy Nature has hired Aliya Hasan for the newly created role of Strategy Director, based in Melbourne. More
Singapore-based digital customer experience solutions provider TDCX has expanded to Turkey, where its new campus will offer capabilities in Turkish and Arabic, in addition to European languages. The firm also plans to expand to Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam in the next twelve months. More
Global sensory and consumer research agency MMR Research Worldwide has promoted Jennifer Brown to the role of US Managing Director. More
In Europe, Nielsen has partnered with FMCG cash-back app Shopmium, a subsidiary of its existing US partner Quotient Technology, promising improved segmentation-based digital marketing for the post-cookie world. More
In the US, holding company Buffalo Groupe has acquired full-service specialist research company Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) USA, and its ActionWatch subsidiary, for an undisclosed sum. More
London-based design research agency The Big Picture (TBP) has promoted Chris Aukett and Laura Pereira to serve as Joint Managing Directors. Former MD John Cassidy becomes company Chairman. More
Marcoms group WPP has acquired insights-led branding agency Passport Brand Design, which conducts consumer research to help establish how a brand can best serve its audience. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US entrepreneurs Alex Shamir, Jordan Shamir and Andrew Stetsenko have launched a platform called Yofi, to help brands and retailers understand their 'actual' customers, their motivations, and the best way to interact with them. The team has raised $1.5m in a pre-seed round of funding. More
In the US, product data platform SmartCommerce has acquired Myxx Solutions, whose marketing platform offers consumers personalized shoppable recipes, and uses its 'list-to-cart' technology to connect consumers to food retailers. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Kantar's TGI consumer data team has partnered with location intelligence company Adsquare to help brands build targeted, cookieless and ID-free localised ad campaigns in Great Britain and France. More
In the US, comms agency Vox Global has opened a Behavioral Insights practice, led by SVP and company Partner James Baril, with support from Partner Jessica Abensour. More
In the US, consumer research and strategy consultancy Bastion Insights has appointed long-time Hall & Partners' exec Joanna Fanuele as Chief Executive Officer. She replaces outgoing CEO Chris Hubble, who founded the agency in 2009. More
Yahoo! and audience data and targeting specialist Adsquare have partnered to help advertisers in EMEA markets develop their digital out-of-home (DOOH) campaigns, using Adsquare's footfall measurement and audience scoring segments. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based brand tracking and consumer science specialist Nepa has announced that its Chief Financial Officer, Ann-Christine Fick, has resigned for 'personal reasons'. Fick will remain at the company until December, and a search for her replacement has commenced. More
New York-based consumer trend insights business Cassandra has hired Claire Richland as Manager of its syndicated young consumer study, the Cassandra Report. More
US-headquartered shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has opened a hub in Dubai, where it has appointed former Nielsen MD Abhik Gupta as a Consultant. More
GfK has transferred Dave Melnick to a newly created role, Commercial Account Development lead for its Consumer Life trends study in North America. More
Multinational consumer goods company Reckitt has launched an online innovation hub called Ignite, through which it aims to create solutions to solve 'some of the world's greatest challenges'. More
In the UK, insight agency Relish has made three senior hires: Tamara M'Bazbaz joins as a quant-focused Insight Director, while Huw Williams and Gemma Baldwin both return to the company. More
YouGov has launched free 'Lite' versions of its BrandIndex and Profiles tools, allowing users to analyse their target audiences and track brand performance for no charge. More
Indian-owned consumer insights company Hansa Research has partnered with experience management platform Qualtrics, to help organizations monitor their brand health performance and build their brands in the country. More
Automated insights platform Zappi has hired MRS Board Chair Sinéad Jefferies for a newly created role with a global remit, Senior Vice President of Customer Transformation. More
Dublin-based RED C Research has promoted five members of its team, including Brian Greene to the position of Head of Data Analytics. More
Toronto, Canada-based online and telephone data collection agency The Logit Group has agreed to acquire the assets and business of US-based Issues & Answers (I&A), including its Virginia Beach head office. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, full service shopper behavior specialist Alter Agents has appointed former Hall & Partners US CEO Michelle Castle as Chief Innovation Officer. More
In the US, former Microsoft exec Malli Vangala has joined newly merged consumer data and insights providers IRI and The NPD Group as Chief Strategy Officer. He succeeds Wei Lin Wong, who will now focus on his role as President of Retail. More
In New York, content creation and personalization platform FindMine has received a new round of venture capital funding, which supplements a previous seed round and brings the total raised to date to $9.9m. More
Culture, community panels and smart digital research specialist Verve has appointed Kylie Fitzpatrick as a Director in its Manchester Hub. Additionally, the company has made hires in Sydney and London, along with six London promotions. More
Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM), the retail media business of supermarket giant Kroger, which is powered by the chain's loyalty card data business 84.51 degrees, has expanded its private programmatic marketplace to include video and CTV inventory. More
In Canada, spatial analytics platform Cognitive3D has raised $2.5m in a seed funding round, and says it will double headcount during the next eighteen months. More
Automotive giant General Motors will be the first advertiser to integrate its own first-party data with media group NBCUniversal's identity platform, NBCUnified. More
On-demand insights provider Toluna has appointed Jeff Claypoole as General Manager, Americas, responsible for sales and revenue growth in the region. More
In Melbourne, Australia, strategic insights consultancy Nature has added five new staff: Katy Oakley as Head of Marketing; Rachel Leticia as Design Specialist; and Mikayla Samuels, Khushboo Pandey and Sophie Wallis as Associate Directors. More
Shopper and digital marketing consultancy Behaviorally has opened an office in Hanoi, Vietnam, and appointed Tomas Emmers there as Vice President. More
Ipsos India has launched a new large sample, nationwide omnibus running multiple times per month and offering rapid turnaround research. More
Berlin-based, AI-powered brand tracking and consumer insights platform Latana has raised EUR 36 million in a Series B round of equity and debt financing. Funds will be used to scale Latana's marketing and sales operations, grow its consumer-facing product teams, and for R&D. More
Private equity firm Beringer Capital has spent an undisclosed sum to acquire a majority stake in Toronto, Canada-based Dig Insights. More
Online survey and research services firm QuestionPro has expanded to Japan with the opening of a Tokyo office, and appointed MR veteran Satoshi Komatsuzaki to lead it as Country Director. More
Next15's data and insights division Savanta has acquired London-based research firm Motif, a 40-strong consumer and b2b agency providing expertise in customer experience, brand strategy and proposition development. Terms were not disclosed. More
Community panels pioneer and culture expert Verve has launched ignite@VERVE, a new offer combining its heritage in communities and smart digital research with a range of proprietary tools including AI, a global network of 'cultural and creative individuals', and a new cultural values framework. More
California-based grocery technology company Instacart has acquired Eversight, an AI-powered platform for CPG brands and retailers, which among other features allows clients to continuously test customized pricing and promotions directly with customers, at scale. More
In the US, consumer data provider IRI and ad and marketing tech company Epsilon have connected the latter's identity solution CORE ID with IRI's CPG transaction data, through Epsilon's clean room, PeopleCloud Prospect. More
M&C Saatchi Indonesia has launched a division called Shopex, to deliver omnichannel shopper and brand experience solutions to clients. More
UK-based product / consumer research agency Sensory Dimensions has been acquired by Eurofins-owned SAM Sensory and Consumer Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
Marcoms giant WPP has acquired 'data-first' eCommerce consultancy Newcraft for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, sensory evaluation and full-service qual and quant consumer product research firm Curion has been acquired by private investment firm Summit Park, for an undisclosed sum. More
Consumer data giant IRI and connectivity and analytics platform LiveRamp have extended their existing partnership, offering access to purchase-based audiences from 45 million households in IRI ProScore within the LiveRamp Safe Haven data collaboration platform. More
Kantar has announced unaudited results for the first half of 2022, with 'gross revenue' up 5% (at constant currency rates) to $1.832bn and adjusted EBITDA up 6% to $310m. Unadjusted, revenue was down 1.8% to $1.566bn, while one-off events contributed to an operating loss of $88m. More
In the US, consumer taste insight platform Qloo has raised $15m in a Series B round of funding, which it will use to expand its technology and build on its sales channels. More
US-based retail chain Walmart is acquiring tech company Volt Systems, whose app delivers current store-level data, analytics and shelf intelligence to enable suppliers to plan, forecast and optimize product assortment. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, location intelligence software provider Kalibrate has launched an online platform called 'Competitive Insights', through which retailers can obtain a real-time view of consumer footfall traffic patterns at a given location. More
Agriculture and animal health specialist Kynetec has promoted Colin Siren to the role of Chief Operating Officer for Animal Health. He replaces Jeff Gaidos, who is taking a step back from the business, but will continue on a part-time consultancy basis. More
YouGov has promoted Laura Robbie, previously MD Australia, to the role of CEO of the Asia Pacific region, replacing Julien Chevignon who becomes CEO for Western Europe. More
In London, behavioural research consultancy Irrational Agency has appointed Adam Warner as Head of Marketing, Lilla Magony as Associate Research Director and Francis Raho-Jeavons as a Senior Research Executive. More
Retail data and research firm VST (Virtual Store Trials) has promoted Charlotte Kiddle to the newly created position of Chief Research & Partnership Officer. More
Retail data and analytics provider Intelligence Node has partnered with pricing intelligence company Pricemoov, to help retailers and brands act on competitive price movements. More
US-based Collage Group, which provides cultural intelligence about diverse consumers, has appointed Victor Paredes as Executive Director of Cultural Strategy. More
In London, insight consultancy Firefish has appointed former Flamingo exec Joella Vera Bril as a Director, combing human insight and cultural strategy to help clients answer business and brand challenges. More
UK insight agency Walnut Unlimited has appointed Emily Abbott as Research Director in its FMCG team, while Thalita Parizotto joins as Associate Director in the Shopper division. More
EU regulators are proposing a EUR 60m fine on French ad tech company Criteo for consumer tracking, profiling and targeting activities said to breach GDPR. The company 'strongly disagrees' with the findings, has time to respond in detail, and a final decision is likely to be taken in 2023. More
In the US, consumer product insights provider Smarter Sorting has raised $7m in a new round of investment, which it will use to further build out its team, digital products and data platform. More
Consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research has hired former GfK and Nielsen exec Mihir Inamdar for a newly created role, Commercial Director, based in Singapore. More
Australian insight consultancy Fiftyfive5 has appointed former Kadence MD Phil Steggals as Head of Consulting for the APAC region. He is based in Singapore. More
Bulgaria-based online panels provider JTN has opened an office in Denmark, to be run by Business Development Director Maria Lassen Pedersen, supported by Helle Raun Oddershede who has been named Business Development Manager. More
Consumer data and insights companies IRI and NPD have completed their merger, which brings together a global team to deliver a view of consumer behavior and total retail purchasing and consumption trends. A unified name and brand for the combined company will be announced soon. More
Kantar and China-based consumption and media research company Sinomonitor have announced a data sharing partnership, to improve access to the former firm's TGI consumer insight data and help their respective clients better understand their growth markets. More
Linda Dupree, CEO of Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) is to retire later this year, and has already been succeeded by NCS Board Chair Alan Miles. Dupree is staying on as an advisor during a transition period. More
Kantar has launched a fast-turnaround solution called Brand Equity Evaluation, to help users quickly answer questions about brand equity strength in a competitive environment, and how to improve it. More
In the US, analytics provider Verisk Marketing Solutions has appointed long-time Experian exec Christine Frohlich as Head of Data Governance, both for its consumer behavioral data and intelligence agency Jornaya, and its consumer identity management and resolution firm Infutor. More
Ipsos has reported second quarter revenue of EUR 574.0m, representing organic growth of 2.1% (reported growth 8.9%). After exceptional results in Q1, the group cited global events and the end of Covid measurement contracts - as well as strong comparatives from Q2 2021 - for the lower figures. More
Retail data and research firms dunnhumby and VST (Virtual Store Trials) have teamed up to launch 'Planogram Publisher', which promises to make retailer Tesco's planogram data accessible to CPG brands. More
In the US, analytics and advisory firm Escalent has appointed Laura Lopez as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). She replaces Todd Shorr, who has retired. More
In Australia, Woolworths Group's retail media business Cartology has agreed to acquire digital out-of-home (DOOH) ad targeting firm Shopper for c.$AUD 150m in cash. More
Digital consumer marketing insights specialist Behaviorally has opened a first office in Thailand, and appointed Vorasiri 'Pat' Supanichvorapart there as Vice President. More
Shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has appointed Thomas Deneke as Head of the German team and Vice President of Client Development. More
Consumer intelligence company Talkwalker has made available to third parties the benchmarking solution developed for its annual Brand Love report - offering marketers measurement of what it calls the drivers of brand love: passion, trust and customer satisfaction. More
UK-based consumer and sensory research agency PPL Insights has added four new team members: Amanda Stephens in its Fieldwork and Operations team, and three recent graduates. More
Long-time Market Measures exec Crispin Boon has returned to the Hampshire, UK-based full service insights consultancy as a Director, while Stef Larden joins as Commercial Director and Michael Fine as Board Advisor. More
In the UK, shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has appointed Patrick Young as Vice President of Client Development, based in its London office. More
Real-time data analytics provider Fobi has signed a deal to buy assets related to grocery store price comparison app and shopper intelligence platform Basket, from tech company Grocery Shopping Labs Inc. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Consumer marketing consultancy Behaviorally has promoted Scott Brill to the role of Managing Director of its US business, bringing together its artificial intelligence and customer success work. More
In the UK, customer experience marketing agency Gekko has partnered with behavioural insight specialist CloudArmy to offer a neuroscience research service helping brands understand customer thinking. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has added five new members to its Research and Project Management teams. More
In the US, cultural intelligence company Collage Group has raised $25m in an inaugural round of growth capital, which it will use for investments in sales and marketing, and for continued development of its data science and technology platform. More
NielsenIQ and GfK have announced an agreement through which the two firms will be 'combined', with NielsenIQ's owner Advent International being the majority shareholder. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
London-based insight consultancy Basis has announced record results, with annual revenue up 20% to £27.4m for the year ended March 2022. More
Research firm MetrixLab has opened an office in Warsaw, Poland, its first in Eastern Europe. More
Mobile-based Indonesian consumer insights platform Populix has won a further US$7.7m in a Series A round of financing, for use in continuing to optimize its existing products and to release new services. More
Kantar Australia has appointed Bethan Hockey in the newly created role of Head of Sustainability in its Insights Division. More
In the US, shopper intelligence specialist Catalina has partnered with sponsorship data platform FanAI, to help CPG brands better understand and measure how their sponsorship investments directly drive sales for their products. More
Paris-based MR data and tech firm Bilendi has expanded to the Netherlands with the opening of an office in Amsterdam, appointing Luigi Casula as Country Manager. The company has also created a new Dutch panel with more than 30,000 members. More
In the US, restaurant sector marketing and analytics platform Personica has appointed Adam Ochstein as Chief Executive Officer, replacing interim CEO John Ouren. The firm has also completed a round of growth recapitalization. More
In London, Tesco-owned customer data science specialist dunnhumby has appointed Stacy Gratz as Regional Managing Director for Media, to lead strategic media planning and sales for the Tesco Media & Insight Platform. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has launched the OmniConsumer Receipt Panel, which will source shopping receipt data from 120,000 active households to provide insights into how consumers are shopping across channels. More
Shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has appointed former Ipsos exec Stephanie Surel as Global Account Leader Switzerland & Market/Business Development, based in the company's Geneva office. More
Melbourne, Australia-based tech-driven research agency Cubery has rolled out its platform in Canada, Singapore and Ireland. More
In New York, personalized video content creation platform VidMob has launched an SaaS version of its Intelligence Creative platform, helping marketers to optimise their creative with help from its suite of analytics, creative automation, production workflows and creative talent network. More
Tokyo-based MR sample provider GMO Research is expanding to North America with the opening of a subsidiary in New York City, headed up by Christa Arite. More
Strategic insight agency Truth Consulting has appointed Kamaljit Kaur as a Director to support the growth of its office in Frankfurt, Germany. More
Independent British-based insight consultancy Trinity McQueen has announced sales of £7.4m in the year ending March 2022; some ten per cent up on the pre-pandemic figure (year ending March 2020). More
UK-based MR agency OnePoll has appointed Amy Price as Research Manager, while making five other hires across its London and Bristol offices, and promoting two researchers in Bristol. More
Matt Britton started digital research platform Suzy in 2018, named it after a favourite song, worked with other non-researchers to build it, and got to $25 million annual recurring revenue 'faster than Salesforce and Qualtrics'. An interview with MrWeb's Nick Thomas - available as video or in print. More
London-based insight consultancy Basis has appointed former Hall & Partners exec Laurie Visee as Head of its US Quantitative Offering. More
Washington, DC-based research-led consulting firm Heart+Mind Strategies has opened a MENA headquarters in the city of Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). More
Consumer data company Pureprofile has appointed long-time Kantar exec Ashish Pandey as Head of Sales - Data & Insights, US and India. More
In New York, consumer insights platform Getwizer has promoted Jennifer Allison to the position of Chief Commercial Officer. More
Consumer intelligence business NielsenIQ has acquired UK and US-based out-of-home food and drinks market data and research consultancy CGA Strategy, for an undisclosed sum. More
Shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has launched a contextually immersive tool called Idea Screener, which combines behavioural science and market research to capture intuitive responses at the earliest stage of new product development. More
Auckland, NZ-based customer intelligence agency Perceptive has appointed Amy Thornton as CX Analyst, while promoting Hollie Cleaver to Data Scientist and Lauren Gell to Research Consultant. More
European customer service specialist Dive has acquired Sweden-based agency Nordic Mystery Shopping for an undisclosed sum. More
In Australia, M&C Saatchi-owned MR agency The Source has launched a kids and youth research and insight division, named after the children's game 'Duck, Duck, Goose'. More
Ipsos has appointed Dr Jessica Ozan as the new Head of Education, Children and Families (ECF) within its Public Affairs division. More
Consumer & shopper insights firm PRS IN VIVO has appointed former System1 Research exec Jonah Berg as Associate Vice President of Insights, USA, based in New York. More
Kantar has announced unaudited results for the first quarter of calendar 2022, including pro forma, currency-adjusted gross revenue up 6% to $911m, and adjusted EBITDA of $144m, up 16% from a year earlier and almost twice the pre-Covid Q1 2019 figure. More
US agency Smarty Pants has promoted Christina Massey to the level of Senior Director, Research and Insights - known locally as 'Insights Sage' - after nine years at the company. More
AI-based consumer insights platform Birdie.ai has appointed former fintech product leader Alexandre Spengler as Head of Product. More
In Australia, consumer data giant NielsenIQ is to offer clients access to 'one of the biggest receipt panels in Australia', promising new understanding of 'the most important retail consumer group - the omnishopper'. More
In the UK, full-service agency BMG Research has opened an office in the London Bridge-based News UK Building, having closed its previous London base during the pandemic due to working from home. More
Retail tech provider Virtual Store Trials (VST) has launched a solution called 'E-commerce Fixture Testing', which offers a virtual simulation of eCommerce sites and apps through which CPG brands can conduct tests. More
Kids and family market intelligence provider The Insights Family has appointed former Kidz Global SVP Ivan Colecchia as Senior Vice President, International Development. He is based in Italy. More
In the UK, insight business Walnut Unlimited has appointed four new Research Directors and two Associate Directors. More
Consumer intel giant NielsenIQ has launched a solution called NielsenIQ Activate, allowing retailers to engage shoppers with personalized promotional offers. More
Shopper marketing consultancy Behaviorally has expanded to the Philippines with the opening of a hub in Manila, where it has appointed Joy Abella-Yu as Vice President. More
Lang.ai, which helps CX teams draw insights from conversations, has raised $10.5m in a Series A round of funding. The money will help improve software to understand what each customer is saying at any point in their buying journey, and correlate this data with their purchase history. More
Oxfordshire, UK-based brand, NPD, category and shopper consultancy Touchstone Shoppercentric is moving all its staff to a four-day working week - with full-time salary - from 6th June. More
Netherlands-based full service agency DVJ Insights has expanded its consultancy team with the appointment of Ben van der Werf and Sonja van den Berg, based in Utrecht. More
Location intelligence and marketing software company Reveal Mobile has launched a self-service platform for out of home (OOH) campaign measurement, known as Mira. More
Tel Aviv, Israel-based in-store intelligence and personalization specialist Nexite has Raised $67m in a Series C round of funding, which brings the company's total funding to $100m. More
US-based restaurant industry performance benchmarking specialist Black Box Intelligence has acquired AreTheyHappy, a customer experience and brand reputation management platform for restaurant and hospitality organizations. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Canada, digital out-of-home (DOOH) ad tech company Hivestack has launched a research division, which will explore in-store, programmatic media activation in the metaverse. Former Microsoft Research MD, P Anandan, has joined as a special advisor to the initiative. More
Independent social and market research agency IFF Research has made two dozen promotions - equivalent to 20% of its team - following 18% revenue growth in 2021-2. More
SurveyMonkey parent Momentive has launched a new solution for concept and creative testing, Idea Screening. The tool promises 'quick, AI-powered insights on early-stage ideas, claims or concepts'. More
In the US, analytics company Upwave has expanded its ad measurement platform with the addition of a module called Brand Effects, using longitudinal metrics to help marketers measure the long-term, lasting effect of a brand in the marketplace. More
London-based machine learning start-up Quin AI has raised £582k in seed funding, which it will use to scale the business across the UK and Germany and build out its business offering. More
In the US, consumer insights platform DISQO has acquired Feedback Loop, which automates research processes such as generating surveys, sourcing consumers, and analyzing and uncovering insights across areas including message and concept testing. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US retail fraud prevention and data services firm Lillii RNB has raised $3m in a seed round, co-led by tennis star Serena William's venture management fund Serena Ventures, along with Aperture Venture Capital. More
UK-based consumer and sensory research agency PPL Insights and France-based consumer and shopper research specialist Strategir have formed a joint venture, to provide a broad range of research services linking all elements of the consumer journey. More
Healthcare experience specialist Press Ganey has completed its acquisition of research technology firm Forsta with an investment, which will be used to accelerate product innovation, especially in the areas of AI, data visualization and qualitative research. More
In New York City, shopper marketing consultancy Behaviorally has appointed Christine Baskin as Vice President, leading the firm's new OTC (over the counter) Pharmaceutical Customer Success teams. More
Ipsos has reported 12.3% first quarter organic revenue growth and a 17.5% reported increase to EUR 547.8m. The firm says it is planning an 'exciting range' of potential acquisitions in key sectors and territories, especially in the USA. More
SAM Sensory and Consumer Research has appointed long-time Happy Thinking People exec Sebastian Gräper as Managing Director, Germany. More
In New York, personalized snack box provider SnackMagic has launched a data platform called CPGpulse, to provide consumer insights for CPG brands. More
Shopper marketing consultancy Behaviorally has expanded to France, opening a Paris hub and appointing Damien Arrouas as Vice President, Customer Success to lead the local team. More
In New York, data science-enabled consumer products platform Aterian has appointed Anton von Rueden as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing global supply chain operations. He takes over from Pramod K C, who has been named COO and General Manager of Aterian's Asia operations. More
Consumer intel giant NielsenIQ has made an undisclosed amount of investment in mobile consumer rewards app Fetch Rewards, whose thirteen million monthly US active users have submitted more than two billion receipts. The deal allows NielsenIQ to enhance its Omnishopper panel. More
In the US, consumer data and insights firm Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) and eCommerce intelligence platform Profitero have partnered to help clients measure and optimize CPG digital shelf presence based on actual item-level sales. More
Audience relationship platform OpenWeb has acquired Paris, France-based programmatic ad platform ADYOULIKE for $100m, in a mix of cash and stock. More
NielsenIQ exec Yuneeb Khan is to join digital media analytics specialist Quotient in July as CFO, Principal Accounting Officer and Treasurer. Chief Account Officer John Kellerman will serve in an interim capacity until then. More
Ipsos India has launched a service called 'Connected Communities', providing specific clients with access to a group of consumers recruited to conduct multiple research projects on their behalf, including studies for exploration, ideation and optimisation. More
Shopper insight specialist Behaviorally has appointed Cindy O'Flanagan as Vice President, Client Development in its New York City practice. More
Behavioural science consultancy The Behavioural Architects (TBA) has hired 29 new members of staff across its global offices - twelve in China, seven in Australia, and ten in the UK. More
In the US, consumer data firm Neustar has partnered with shopping behavior insights provider Catalina to enable consumer packaged goods brand advertisers to optimize their marketing mix, campaign tactics and audience targets on-the-fly based on real time purchase behavior. More
Major league consumer data and insights firms IRI and The NPD Group have announced they are to merge, promising clients 'a view of total retail purchasing and consumption trends powered by advanced, predictive analytics' on IRI's Liquid Data technology platform. More
Consumer data company Pureprofile has appointed former Ipsos and maru exec Rachel Knowles as Head of Data & Insight UK. More
In the US, low-code retail intelligence platform GoalProfit has raised $655k in a pre-seed round of funding. More
Shopper insights firm Behaviorally has expanded to Germany, appointing Christian Dössel as Senior Vice President based in Hamburg. More
In Sofia, Bulgaria, online panel firm JTN has promoted Yoanna Yordanova to Client Success Director, overseeing its Key Accounts and New Business teams and replacing Raycho Garnenkov who is stepping down from the role. More
In the US, Ipsos has appointed former Kantar exec Whitney Krause James as a President of the US organization, leading several lines of business. She joins on April 4th and will be based in New York. More
In New York, cinema advertising network National CineMedia (NCM) has launched a data, insights and analytics platform for moviegoers called NCMx, to connect brands with custom audiences in theaters as well as on digital screens before and after attending movies. More
British video-based insight company Vox Pops International has become employee-owned through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). More
New York-based post-purchase consumer survey data firm EnquireLabs has raised $4.5m in a seed funding round, as it releases its flagship Question Stream product and software development kit. More
California-based digital media analytics specialist Quotient has announced that Chief Technology Officer and former long-time Nielsen exec Matthew Krepsik will become Chief Executive Officer when founder Steven Boal retires from the role at the end of this year. More
In the US, experience platform Survey Dynamix has been renamed Mindful Feedback, following its recent acquisition by CX software developer VHT. More
In the US, entertainment insights business MarketCast has acquired ad and brand measurement specialist Phoenix Marketing International, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, consumer goods data company Smarter Sorting has raised $25m in a funding round, which it will use to accelerate its tech roadmap and scale business operations. The firm has also named Jacqueline Claudia as Chief Executive, replacing founder Chris Ripley. More
M&C Saatchi Group's specialist growth and data consultancies Clear and Fluency have launched an AI-based intelligence platform called the Brand Desire Engine. More
Africa-focused data and analytics firm Sagaci Research has appointed Paloma Orejas as Quantitative Research Director, heading its Quant Consumer Research department. More
Consumer intelligence business NielsenIQ has acquired Israel-based ciValue, whose AI platform offers retailers insights into what consumers want, and helps deliver personalized offers and ads. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Shopper insight specialist Behaviorally has opened an office in New York, where it has appointed former InSites Consulting exec Jeff Haselum as Senior Vice President, leading the practice. More
Marketing software developer Adobe has launched artificial intelligence-based capabilities for customer personalization, prediction and insights. More
In New York, shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has appointed Jennifer Engel as Senior Vice President, Client and Market Development, USA. More
Nielsen's shares soared by around 30% to $22.85 yesterday, after it was reported in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that the firm is in talks to be acquired by a group of investors in a $15bn deal. More
In New York, in-home product testing platform Highlight has raised $7m in a seed round of investment, including money from Momentive CEO Zander Lurie; Richard Thornton, former CEO of Cint; Tom Bernthal, CEO of Kelton; and Max Mullen, founder of Instacart. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has promoted seven employees, including Erin Russeck for the newly created role of Chief Research Officer. Kelly Jasper moves into Russeck's previous position, EVP of Corporate Strategy & Innovation. More
Media and marketing services company ENGINE has rolled out its cookieless 'Attitude-Based Audience' capability in Australia, allowing marketers to target online audiences across auto, financial services, health / pharma, lifestyle and tech sectors. More
Pureprofile has announced a partnership with Southeast Asian content and community platform theAsianparent. More
Agriculture and Animal Health specialist Kynetec has appointed Nielsen veteran Paul Walker as COO for Crop Market and Customer Insights, replacing Richard Jameson, who is taking a step back but will support specific projects on a part-time consultancy basis. More
In the US, consumer intent analysis platform System1 has acquired NextGen Shopping's CouponFollow, which has millions of subscribers to its e-mail newsletter and works with over 5,000 brand partners. System1 is paying up to $115m, in a combination of cash and stock, over three years. More
Ipsos India has announced the appointments of Garima Mall and Pooja Doshi as Executive Directors. Mall will service Market Strategy & Understanding (MSU) and Brand Health Tracking (BHT) Clients in Mumbai and Bengaluru, while Doshi will work on key CPG accounts and drive business development. More
US-based advertising and brand specialist Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) has appointed Brigette Lytle as Senior Vice President - Client Services. More
In Barcelona, retail customer data platform (CDP) Loyal Guru has raised EUR 8m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use for expansion across Europe and the Americas, and to further develop its product. More
Continuing our focus on 'Measuring Brains & Bodies', Pedro talks about sweat, motor racing, suppliers who always say Yes, investors who always said No, banning the bull and embracing the (one-trick) pony, and how EDA (electrodermal activity) can grow into a currency for media engagement. More
In the US, consumer behavior analyst NielsenIQ has promoted Parm Singh to the role of Global Head of Retail Analytics, and Xavier Facon to Global Head of Retail Media. More
In the US, sensory evaluation and consumer product research firm Curion Holdings has opened a Consumer Center in Natick, Massachusetts, to expand its innovation insights services in the New England area. More
MrWeb's special issue on 'Measuring Brains and Bodies' is launched today: viewing and downloading the 72-page pdf supplement is free: click the cover or the link below; or read on for the second part of Michelle Niedziela's article, which offers a guide to Best Practice in consumer neuroscience projects. More
Behavioral insights consultancy Behaviorally has appointed Lonneke de Roo as Senior Vice President in Geneva, leading the firm's Switzerland office. More
In the Netherlands, full-service agency DVJ Insights has appointed Emily Lando as Director Research & Operations, responsible for carrying out client projects and directing the activities of the Research team. More
In Sweden, product recommendation specialist Depict.ai has raised $17m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to expand its recommendation engine in Europe and the US, and to grow its team. More
Emotion analytics specialist Realeyes and media quality measurement agency Adelaide have partnered to help advertisers uncover the value of attention insights across both creative and media. More
Ipsos has reported a 16.8% increase in annual revenue to EUR 2.14bn for 2021, with overall organic growth of 17.9%. Perhaps more significantly, the figures represent impressive organic growth of 10.4% when compared with 2019. More
Packaged food manufacturing giant Kraft Heinz has announced a far-reaching partnership with Google, with the aim of improving its understanding of consumers, and tailoring products and experience to them. More
Marcoms group Havas has acquired UK-based digital experience agency Inviqa in what it describes as a 'substantial' eight-figure deal. More
On-demand insights firm UserTesting has added 'social media commerce' templates to its platform, allowing companies which are building products to obtain opt-in feedback from shoppers on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and WhatsApp. More
In the US, AI-powered, in-location experience management (XM) platform Raydiant has raised $30m in a Series B round of funding, which it will use to further develop its products through acquisitions and hire new team members. More
Tel Aviv, Israel-based AI-driven data analytics platform Blyp has raised $4m in a seed round of funding, which it will use to scale its US operations and add new functionality to its platform. More
Shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has appointed long-time PepsiCo exec Mike Dillon as Global Head of Shopper. He is based in the US. More
San Francisco-based no-code retail sector decision intelligence solution Cerebra has raised $15m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to scale its solution globally and for strategic hires. More
In Australia, WPP-owned global data and measurement-driven media agency Essence has appointed Simon Pugh as Managing Director for Brisbane. More
Automated insights platform Zappi has reported $50 million in sales in 2021, representing more than 30 percent growth in twelve months; and the hiring of more than 100 new employees during the year. More
Shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has promoted Nicole Duckworth to the role of Head of Europe and Global Commercial Excellence, with a seat on the Board of Directors. More
In New York, marketing technology company Bluecore has partnered with ad targeting and retargeting specialist Criteo to help brands use their owned first-party data to predict what new and existing shoppers will buy next on major ad channels. More
Continuing our focus on 'Measuring Brains & Bodies', HCD's VP of Research & Innovation talks about a career in 'neuro' (with a rat allergy); quantifying the stress of bad audio on a Zoom call; whether any perfume can live up to one of those weird ads; and much more besides. Available to watch or read. More
In Australia, Advantage Group, which acts as an advisor for CPG and grocery sector B2B engagement solutions, has hired Peter Harris for the newly created role of Global Chief Research Officer. More
Online panel provider Intra Research has launched four new panels, covering Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. More
Manchester-based full-service MR agency Mustard has appointed Rebecca Harris as Research Director, while welcoming back Amy Harrod and Joe Stanley as Senior Research Manager and SRE respectively. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has appointed former dunnhumby exec Will Blackett as Executive Vice President, Consumer. More
In the US, consumer behavior and analytics consultancy GBK Collective has appointed Dan Yavorsky as SVP, Analytics and Marketing Science. More
In the US, custom MR firm AMC Global has appointed Alecia DiVita as Senior Project Director, Diane Gaede as Research Director and Drevin Shafer as Project Director, focused on designing and managing qual and quant research projects for CPG and consumer healthcare clients. More
Tesco-owned customer data specialist dunnhumby has appointed former Elsevier EVP Dan Olley as its new Chief Exec. He replaces Guillaume Bacuvier, who left the business last May and is now Global CEO of Kantar's consumer panel division Worldpanel. More
Consumer intent analysis platform System1 has become a publicly listed company through a merger with 'blank check company' Trebia Acquisition Corp, set up by D&B investor Cannae Holdings. The deal values System1 at $1.4 billion. More
Tesco-owned customer data science specialist dunnhumby has announced that its flagship products dunnhumby Shop and dunnhumby Assortment are now available on Microsoft Azure. More
Former Added Value UK Deputy MD Paul Cowper is returning to the Kantar Group, as Senior Partner in the Consulting practice. More
Data collection company Norstat has acquired Nordic online data supplier Userneeds, for an undisclosed sum. The deal adds approximately 130,000 panelists to Norstat's existing consumer panels across the region. More
Kantar has made its Link AI ad testing solution available on the Kantar Marketplace on-demand research platform. More
New York-based full service agency Radius Global Market Research (Radius GMR) has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Star Mountain Capital. More
UK-based group Cello Health has sold its Digital Technology Advisory Group Ltd (DTAG), which includes 2CV, The Value Engineers (TVE) & Signal Agency, to private equity firm Vespa Capital. More
UK branding specialist Yonder Consulting has appointed Kate Langford as Recruitment Manager, responsible for acquisition of talent across the whole business. More
GfK and cross-device targeting specialist Dstillery have expanded their partnership with the development of 32 new audience segments, through which digital marketers can target CPG shoppers. More
US-based brand analytics platform Upwave has launched a feature called Customer Forecast, to understand which paid brand media tactics are likely to drive future customer growth and identify long-term media efficiencies. More
Wearable tech is everywhere, and offers great potential for collecting data, but how useful is it right now for answering specific research questions? Kathryn Ambroze, Manager of Behavioral and Marketing Sciences at HCD Research continues our month-long focus on 'Measuring Brains & Bodies'. More
US-based behavioral insights consultancy Behaviorally has launched a division called eFluence, to help brands drive sales at the digital shelf level, and influence the omnichannel shopper journey. Former Chief Commercial Officer Scott Brill will lead the new division as MD. More
Tesco-owned retail data science business dunnhumby has launched a platform called Sphere, for use in audience targeting, media booking, forecasting and measurement across a range of retail media channels. More
New Zealand-based insights agency TRA Group (The Research Agency) has made three appointments in its Australia office - Mark Hutchinson as product owner of its new brand management tool Streamlight; and Andie Lowings and Alex Forrester as Business Directors. More
Chicago-based insights agency C+R Research has promoted Jorge Martinez-Bonilla to the role of Senior Vice President and Partner. More
Kantar Public has hired long-time YouGov exec Tom Burgess for the newly created role of Global Panels Director, supporting its probability-based citizen panel, PUBLIC Voice. More
Tesco's customer data science firm dunnhumby has partnered with software giant SAP to help retailers make 'faster, customer-led decisions' and deliver a more personalised shopper experience in-store and at home. More
UK-based kids and family market intelligence provider The Insights Family has expanded its services to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Argentina and South Africa. More
In the first feature from our forthcoming special issue on neuroscience techniques, Michelle Niedziela and Glenn Kessler from title sponsor HCD Research give an introduction to the progress and potential of the field, and cut through some of the hype and misconceptions surrounding it. More
Online communities specialist InSites Consulting has acquired US-based 'customer-centric' specialist Gongos, for an undisclosed sum. More
Financial transaction data firm Facteus has acquired 1010data's Equity Intelligence arm, for an undisclosed sum. More
Fonto, the recently launched Australia-based consumer data business headed up by former Kantar and Nielsen leader Ben Dixon, has raised $6m in capital with which to accelerate its growth and expand its suite of services. More
Shopper intelligence specialist Catalina has partnered with location intelligence firm PlaceIQ to offer location-driven planning, measurement and attribution services to CPG retailers. More
Israel-based digital market intelligence company SimilarWeb has added consumer insights from Walmart, Target, Best Buy and pet food retailer Chewy to its Shopper Intelligence solution, which launched in July with insights from Amazon. More
Andy Ralphs has returned to Tesco-owned customer data firm dunnhumby as Head of Africa, based in Cape Town. More
In the UK, sensory and consumer research agency Sensory Dimensions has promoted Jane Randal and Nicola Stendhurst to Research Director roles; Lauren Henry and Catriona Quigley to Associate Director; and Sairah Vivian to Financial Controller. More
In New York, location intelligence platform CARTO has raised $61m in a Series C round of funding, which it will use to expand into verticals such as consumer packaged goods, retail, logistics and telecoms. More
London-based business intelligence provider GlobalData Plc has acquired automotive research and data firm LMCA Holdings Ltd and agribusiness specialist LMCI Holdings Ltd, for an undisclosed sum. More
R.R. Donnelley & Sons' $2.1bn acquisition by Atlas Holdings is off, replaced by a $2.3bn deal with private investment firm Chatham Asset Management, which is a longstanding investor in the company. More
North of England-based DJS Research has hired fourteen new members of staff across a range of departments, including William Scott as Associate Director, and Amy Greenwood and Sylvie Harding as Research Managers. More
John Robson and Magnus Willis, the founders of London-based consumer insight and brand strategy specialist Sparkler, have left the business to take time out for a 'rest and reset'. More
YouGov has given Özge Akçizmeci Üstün a newly created role of Strategic Account Lead for the Benelux region, aiming to increase its presence in the area. More
North of England-based full service qual and quant agency Swift Research has appointed Tom Parkman as Head of Insight. More
Insight consultancy Firefish has appointed Scarlett Moody as Senior Director it its London headquarters. More
NielsenIQ has acquired Paris-based Foxintelligence (Foxintel), which tracks and measures eCommerce activity based on anonymized transaction data collected from consumers through dedicated apps. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Indian consumer insights provider Hansa Research Group is opening an office in Dhaka, Bangladesh. More
Alexandria, VA-based marketing agency Yes& has acquired competitor Beyond Definition, based in Silver Spring, MD, thus 'enhancing the depth and breadth of its capabilities in research, brand strategy, design and digital'. Terms were not disclosed. More
Research and analytics group YouGov has acquired Zurich, Switzerland-based market and social research agency LINK Marketing Services AG. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, marketers Shane George and Tom Cherrey have launched a platform called BrandTruth, which uses artificial intelligence and 'proven psychology' to help organisations understand their 'brand essence' and drive the brand development process. More
Guy Maxwell has returned to insight business Walnut Unlimited as Head of Qualitative Research, after six years as Global Head of Qual Research at MMR. He replaces Lyn McGregor, who left in September and is now a consultant at Pollinate. More
First-party data platform Dynata has acquired brand and advertising research consultancy Ameritest, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has given this year's Agency of the Year Award to London-based insight firm Opinium, which had previously been shortlisted eight times in nine years. More
In New York, brand research consultancy Brand Keys is launching what it claims will be the world's largest and most continuous database of predictive brand loyalty metrics. More
Kantar has reported revenue of $2,681m for the first three quarters of 2021, up 11% at constant currency although still down 5% from 2019 figures; and EBITDA of $445m, up 52% on 2020 and 39% (organic growth 33%) versus the same period in 2019. More
In Toronto, Harris Poll owner Stagwell Group has brought together two units of its recently merged business MDC Partners to form a new agency, DonerNorth. The two are creative, digital and media experts UNION and shopper innovation and insights firm 6 Degrees. More
In the UK, former Kantar / Hall & Partners exec Jane Bloomfield has joined WPP-owned brand transformation specialist Landor & Fitch as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). More
Tesco has launched a closed loop platform, powered by its data science firm dunnhumby, to help suppliers and agencies engage with customers, and provide those customers with a more personalised and relevant shopping experience. More
Affinity Solutions, which analyzes consumer spending data to help clients with their targeted marketing initiatives, has partnered with public sector software and services provider Tyler Technologies, to provide real-time data and insights on economic recovery. More
Crispin Beale, former Chime I&E CEO, has joined US-based Behaviorally in the newly created role of company President, overseeing all client service and business development efforts across Europe, Asia and North America. More
Consumer and brand researcher 4Sight has partnered with CHN Analytics, which provides predictive analytics for the US Department of Defense, to offer services for commercial clients identifying potential risks in product ingredients and opportunities from new technology. More
Ian Forrester, former Insight Head at video tracking platform Unruly, has launched an AI-powered ad research platform called DAIVID, which automates ad testing by using facial coding, eye tracking and computer vision data to predict human attention levels and emotions. More
Ipsos has launched an early stage creative development solution called Instant|Labs, providing clients with an understanding of the potential of creative and ideas within just one day. More
In India, Tesco-owned customer data firm dunnhumby has named Prithvesh Katoch as Global Head of Client Data Services. The firm has also promoted Chhavi Sinha to the role of Global Head of Data Engineering, while Nitesh Maan joins as Director of Media Engineering. More
US-based Behaviorally has appointed Peter Divers as Vice President of its Qualitative team in London, supporting clients across the UK and in Europe. More
Customer experience consultancy Envoy has appointed Jeff Brecker as Managing Director of its Chicago office. More
Kantar has appointed Duncan Houldsworth to lead its Brand & Marketing ROI Analytics practice in North America. More
Comscore has expanded its Consumer Intelligence solution to cover all 210 US local markets, providing local TV stations, digital publishers and media buyers with insight to connect consumer behavior with local television and digital consumption down to the ZIP code level. More
Global data and measurement-driven media agency Essence has promoted Anna Berry to the role of UK Managing Director, replacing Ali Reed who has been appointed CEO of Omnicom-owned media and marcoms firm PHD. More
Nielsen's digital product content creation and publishing solution Brandbank has launched new capabilities to understand how complete clients' product content is, and how to optimise it to improve the shopper experience. More
Marketing and consumer insights platform Prodege has secured an undisclosed 'major' investment from private equity firm Great Hill Partners, for use in rapid organic expansion and for targeted acquisitions. More
Dutch marcoms agency group Candid has agreed to acquire UK firm Brand Potential, for an undisclosed sum. More
Southeast Asian consumer research and analytics firm Milieu Insight has raised $5m in funding, for use in development of new products and geographical expansion. More
In New York, customer data and marketing platform Ometria has raised $40m in a Series C round of funding, which it will use to triple the size of its Product and Engineering team. More
Data and research services company Schlesinger Group has acquired Delvinia's automated research platform Methodify, and its online consumer panel AskingCanadians, for an undisclosed sum. The announcement coincides with the launch of 'Methodify Reimagined'. More
San Francisco-based UserTesting has launched an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 14.2 million shares, through which it plans to raise $227m. More
Shopper and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has launched of AI Pack Screener 2, an early-stage packaging design screening and optimization tool combining AI and human input from the firm's experts. More
Product and package insights firm Curion Holdings has announced the acquisition of Minneapolis, MN-based consumer research firm Ravel - formerly Smith Dahmer Associates. More
Australian insight consultancy Fiftyfive5 has made 33 new hires since July, boosting its teams in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Singapore. They include Clare Bradshaw as COO and Helen Brocklehurst as NZ-based Head of CX. More
Nielsen and mobile audience data and targeting specialist Adsquare have expanded their data partnership to Australia, combining consumer data with location-based targeting capabilities so clients can reach 'hyper-relevant audiences at the right mobile moments'. More
American grocery giant Kroger has launched a programmatic advertising marketplace, through which agencies and brands can reach its consumers. More
Swedish eye tracking technology firm Smart Eye has acquired Danish emotional response software measurement developer iMotions for $46.6m. More
Australian insights consultancy Nature has appointed Arletta Turnbull as Director in its Melbourne office, with responsibility for several major accounts and for helping drive the firm's business strategy. The company has also made three other appointments in the city. More
Long-time Kantar exec Tim Wragg has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of brand insights analytics and consulting agency Hall & Partners, succeeding Vanella Jackson who moves to the role of company Chairperson. More
US-based in-store video analytics firm Deep North has raised $16.7m in a Series A-1 round of funding, which it will use to make 'key hires' and to expand its services. More
Ipsos has posted third quarter revenue of EUR 526.3m, up 12.3% versus Q3 2020 and 5.4% - or 8.5% in organic growth terms - compared with Q3 2019. The firm says profitability is 'in line with the objectives for the year announced in July', with a slight improvement predicted in operating margin. More
Research and analytics group YouGov has brought its recent Canadian sports research acquisition Charlton Insights under the main corporate brand. More
Retail data provider The NPD Group is to be acquired by private equity firm Hellman & Friedman (H&F), with NPD Executive Chairman Tod Johnson and CEO Karyn Schoenbart retaining a minority stake in the business and continuing to serve on the Board. More
YouGov has reported revenue of £169.0m for the year to July 31st, up 18% in like-for-like terms and 11% reported. Reported pre-tax profit rose 24% to £18.9m, and adjusted operating profit rose 32% like-for-like (21% reported) to £31.2m. More
In Flemington, NJ, neuro-behavioral consumer researcher HCD Research has announced a new user experience product, HCD NeuroUX. More
Australia-based digital research platform Pureprofile has launched a data platform called Audience Intelligence, to give retailers and restauranteurs access to market analysis and competitor spending trends in real-time. More
Consumer data giant and predictive analytics specialist IRI has appointed former Dentsu UK&I CEO Euan Jarvie as President for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Jarvie will also join IRI's Executive Leadership Team. More
In the US, shopper intelligence specialist Catalina has hired former Epsilon data chief Stacey Hawes as US Chief Revenue Officer, Direct & Channel Sales. More
In the UK, consumer specialist 2CV has appointed former Kantar Qual MD Alice Moss as Head of Qualitative Research; and promoted Ruth Noble to the role of Group Research Director, Head of Life & Style. Additionally, the firm has made two senior hires in the US. More
In New York, behavioral science insights agency BEESY has appointed Robert Sable as Senior Behavioral Associate, while Shlomit Jacobson joins as a Consultant. More
In the US, eCommerce specialist David Weissman has launched a company called Humankind, allowing retailers to connect their product experts with online shoppers through one-to-one SMS conversations. More
UK-based research and data business Delineate has appointed Mike Stroud as Marketing Director, responsible for driving marketing strategy. This includes launching the company's plan to shift to an SaaS model. More
New York-based consumer insights platform Suzy has launched an in-home usage testing (IHUT) solution, allowing consumers to physically test products - from unboxing and assessing packaging appeal, to journey mapping - and provide feedback to brands. More
In New York, data-driven audience intelligence platform Helixa and audience insight company GlobalWebIndex (GWI) have partnered to integrate predictive insights with 'expressed consumer intent' data. More
Consumer intelligence business NielsenIQ has acquired two eCommerce insights firms - Data Impact and Rakuten Intelligence. Terms of the deals have not been disclosed. More
London-based holding company STRAT7 has acquired Kin + Carta's strategic consultancy Incite, in a deal valued at £18m. More
Ipsos has announced that Nathalie Roos will no longer be taking over as CEO, following the emergence of 'deep discrepancies' in her discussions with Didier Truchot. Instead, Ipsos MORI CEO Ben Page will take the top job, from November 15th. More
WPP has agreed to pay more than $19m to settle charges that it violated several provisions of the USA's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The SEC accused the marcoms giant of breaches of protocols including anti-bribery, books and records, and internal accounting. More
Behavioral science-based consumer insights firm Sentient Decision Science has appointed former System1 researcher Simon Wyld as SVP of Sales in its Sentient Insights division. More
British-based agency group UNLIMITED has appointed Simon Collister PhD as Director of its Human Understanding Lab. More
Programmatic advertising platform StackAdapt has integrated Oracle Moat Measurement into its offering for retail and CPG advertisers, providing real-time measurement and attribution metrics which the firm says were previously unavailable to the sector. More
B2B information, analytics and eCommerce optimisation specialist Ascential (previously known as EMAP) has acquired digital shelf optimization company OneSpace. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Reflecting the ever-increasing value placed on 'alternative data' by financial advisors and investors, Bloomberg is to make rich consumer purchase intent data for the US and China from Prosper Insights & Analytics available through its data marketplace. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has unveiled a new solution to enable CPG manufacturers and retailers to measure the off-line sales impact of their social media ad campaigns across Facebook and Instagram. More
In New York, full-service MR firm 360 Market Reach has launched a solution combining consumer insights and targeted social media influencer feedback to support product development initiatives. More
In San Francisco, artificial intelligence-based analytics start-up Viable has raised $3.9m in pre-seed and seed funding rounds, which it will use to roll out its qualitative feedback tool. Craft Ventures and Javelin Venture Partners led the funding rounds respectively. More
In the US, consumer behavior analyst and consultancy GBK Collective has appointed former Kantar exec Rob da Silva as Executive Vice President, while promoting Brian Smith to the role of EVP, Strategic Insights. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has partnered with Banyan, which connects SKU-level consumer receipt data with financial transactions, to provide its retail clients with a more 'holistic' view of consumer shopping habits and opportunities. More
Behavioural insights company Behaviorally (formerly PRS) has appointed Kai Virtanen as Vice President, Market Development, Europe, based in London. More
Pierre Le Manh, Ipsos' CEO in North America, has left the company to pursue 'other opportunities', and been replaced by former Gartner exec Lorenzo Larini. More
UK-based ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has acquired the business and assets of Chicago-based start-up Data Quorum, including its library of statistical tools. More
International data and research services company Schlesinger Group has launched a life-size virtual shopping aisle, which simulates an in-store shopping experience to gain in-context insights. More
Multinational food, snack and beverage corporation PepsiCo has launched an in-house data practice called Pepviz, using real-time insights, advanced analytics and data science to target shoppers. More
In Ireland, RED C Research has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by one of its clients, the Business Post Group. More
UK-based consumer and sensory researcher MMR Group has opened an office in Amsterdam, where it has appointed former Flavors & Fragrances exec James Gater as Regional Head, Netherlands. More
Consumer and shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has appointed Nicole Duckworth as Managing Director in the UK and Clément Dargent as Managing Director in France, while promoting Olivier Bardin to the position of Head of Switzerland, VP Client Development. More
GfK has expanded its gfknewron platform with the addition of market, consumer and brand data, along with predictive analytics. More
Tourism shopping tax refund company Global Blue has become a majority stakeholder in Yocuda, which enables retailers to capture customer data at point-of-sale (POS) and re-engage with them through a customisable digital receipt. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, consumer intelligence platform NielsenIQ has acquired two companies - revenue management optimization solution Cornerstone Capabilities, and health and wellness data provider Label Insight. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. More
Former dunnhumby CEO Guillaume Bacuvier has been hired as Global Chief Executive Officer of Kantar's consumer panel division Worldpanel. He succeeds Josep Montserrat, who takes on the role of Non-Executive Chairman. More
Research revenue for the Top 50 US-based insights and data analytics companies rose 4% to $48 billion in 2020, even as overall US GDP contracted 3.5% during the global Covid pandemic, according to the Insights Association's Top 50 Report. More
In the US, consumer intelligence business NielsenIQ and experience management platform Qualtrics have partnered, to create 'comprehensive' brand experience solutions, offering clients a real-time, '360-degree view' of their brand health based on consumer feedback. More
Tokyo-based online specialist Macromill has included Taiwan in its weekly consumer survey, adding to existing coverage of China, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. More
In the US, social media listening and analytics specialist Talkwalker has acquired review management platform Reviewbox for an undisclosed sum. More
In London, Tesco-owned customer data firm dunnhumby has promoted long-time employee Sandra Stanley to the role of Chief Data Science Officer, leading its global team of 500 data scientists. More
Retail tech provider Virtual Store Trials (VST) has launched a self-serve product called Planogram Visualizer, to enable CPG brands and FMCG retailers to build virtual grocery shelves for planning and testing. More
In South Africa, full-service agency BMi Research has promoted Jenni-Ruth Coggin to Chief Executive Officer and Cindi Collett to Chief Operating Officer. More
In the US, shopper intelligence firm Catalina has partnered with out-of-home (OOH) buying program AdQuick to launch a purchase-based audience targeting and sales lift measurement insights service for OOH media buyers. More
US-based customer experience (CX) specialist SeeLevel HX has partnered with Shop'n Chek Latin America to develop a new range of services. More
Digital research firm MetrixLab has appointed Jayanth Narasimha as Regional Director of Qualitative Research for the AMEA region. In this role, he will integrate early-stage qual solutions with MetrixLab's existing quant offerings for packaging, communications and creative testing. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has acquired Pennsylvania, US-based full-service agency MSI International. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In Pittsburgh, USA, market intelligence company CivicScience is launching an advertising company tapping data from its 100m plus survey respondents. The new firm starts with $15m seed funding from investors including the NPD Group, and is led by CEO Doug Lauretano. More
Vienna, Austria-based marketing analytics platform Adverity has closed a $120 million Series D financing round. More
Retargeting tech company RTB House has updated its Deep Learning AI Engine, to provide brands with an enhanced view of consumers throughout their path to purchase. More
Tokyo-based Macromill has announced the launch of a digital advertising business, Macromill Ads, tapping the data from its 1.3m proprietary consumer panelists to provide a one-stop service from ad planning and distribution to the measurement of effectiveness. More
UK-based integrated agency group Unlimited has promoted its CFO Ed Guest to the role of Chief Operating Officer. More
London-based youth insight and panel business YouthSight has hired six researchers, plus two new members for its Project Management team. This includes the appointment of former Yonder Consulting/Ipsos MORI exec Ralph Robinson as Senior Research Manager. More
In the UK, insight business Walnut Unlimited has promoted Chris Bland to the role of Managing Director, overseeing the day-to-day running of the agency. He takes over from Jane Rudling, who will continue in her role as Head of Unlimited's Insights & Analytics division. More
Comscore and Verisk-owned transaction data provider Commerce Signals have partnered to develop contextual audiences for cookieless ad targeting across digital mobile, and CTV inventory, for the retail industry. More
In the US, Kantar has appointed former SurveyMonkey exec Chuck Brinker as Brand Guidance Product team Lead, starting next month; and Christoph Haschka as Group Director of Mergers and Acquisitions. More
In India, data collection and MR services firm Aeon Market Research has appointed Preeta Sanjith as Executive Director, heading up the Research division. More
In the US, advertising and brand specialist Phoenix Marketing International (Phoenix MI) has acquired research-based consultancy Communicus, which provides insights into how ad campaigns build brands and motivate purchasing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has launched a network called IRI Marketplace, bringing together the firm's technology, data, and analytical partners on a single platform. More
In the US, former Focus Pointe Global CEO Laura Livers has joined customer experience specialist SeeLevel HX as Executive Vice president, tasked with leading the firm's growth initiatives. More
Sir Martin Sorrell's S4Capital has merged its digital content production company MediaMonks and digital media solutions provider MightyHive into a single data, digital media and tech brand called Media.Monks. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has expanded its Essentials suits of tools with the addition of creative testing, employee experience and stakeholder perceptions modules. More
Community panels pioneer Verve has appointed Tesco veteran Simon Taylor as a Research Director leading its grocery specialism, supporting key client the John Lewis Partnership; and has announced seven promotions. More
Australia-based strategic insights consultancy Nature has added nine new staff, following strong growth in the last year. More
Fast-rising Manchester, UK-based researcher The Insights Family has announced a move to larger offices on the city's central King Street, and the opening of a satellite office in Mayfair, London, as well a roll-out in Poland and a number of hires. More
Aromyx, which has developed technology to digitize and quantify the information from sensory receptors in the human nose and tongue, has raised $10m in a Series A round. Funds will help increase capacity and automation capabilities, improve AI algorithms, and expand its lab and software teams. More
Real-time consumer feedback and market intelligence platform Native.AI has appointed Mike Jackson as Chief Technology Officer, to drive adoption of the firm's AI-powered solution. This enables clients in food, beverage and CPG sectors to analyze and act on customer feedback. More
Shopper insight specialist Behaviorally has launched a platform called Flash PDP, powered by visual recognition AI and allowing brands to optimize visual content on eCommerce product detail pages. More
In New York, 'zero-party' data marketing platform Octane AI has raised $5m in a round of funding, which it will use to help merchants personalize shoppers' eCommerce experiences. More
In the US, shopper insights specialist Behaviorally has appointed former YouGov exec Danielle DuPreé as Vice President, Market Development. She is based in Teaneck, NJ. More
Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally has appointed former PRS IN VIVO exec Inna Merenkova as Managing Director, Europe, based in London. More
In Singapore, shopper insights specialist Behaviorally has appointed Stephen Dexter as Senior Director, Market Development. More
In the US, shopper intelligence specialist Catalina has appointed Sean Murphy as Chief Data & Analytics Officer. He replaces Wes Chaar, who has taken the same job title at compliance software and services firm Fyllo. More
In the US, shopper behavior specialist Alter Agents has launched a tool called the Shopper Influence Research program, which uses a proprietary methodology to uncover shopper insights and help brands better understand consumers. More
In the US, behavioral research firm InsightsNow has hired long-time Coca-Cola exec Kristin Wright to manage its Research and Insights team. More
Northern European data collection company Norstat Group has acquired Amsterdam-based firm Respondenten.nl, giving it a first presence in the Netherlands and a full-time headcount of more than 180. More
Global consumer and shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has appointed former Nielsen exec Lisa Manuzza as Senior Vice President, Client & Marketing Development, in the US. More
Netherlands-based group Effective Media & Marketing (EMM) has launched an FMCG-focused agency called ASK-Opinions, which will combine online panel research with shopper and purchase data from more than 1.5 million brand and category buyers. More
From our special issue published this week, KL Communications founder Kevin Lonnie talks about what's changed and what hasn't in twenty years running a communities business; about getting customers to solve clients' business problems; and getting space men to talk to each other. More
Kantar has completed its acquisition of consumer and market intelligence company Numerator from investment firm Vista Equity Partners, in a deal which it says will provide insights into the shopping habits of almost five billion consumers globally. Reuters' sources claim the deal is worth about $1.5 billion. More
Shopper insight specialist Behaviorally has appointed Joe Corace as Vice President, Client Development. He is based in Chicago and will support clients across the Mid-West. More
Our 2021 Online Communities supplement is published today. In this article, Richard Preedy from title sponsor Verve looks at the role the company's community panels have played in the customer-focused transformation of retailer John Lewis. More
Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally has appointed Nisha Yadav as Senior Vice President, Omni Shopper, based in New York. More
NYC-based customer lifecycle marketing company Zeta Global has elected former NBA international marketing leader Jene Elzie to its Board of Directors. More
Kantar has chosen a new Chief Executive - Chris Jansen, currently CEO of global schools group Cognita, starts in the role on 1st November. More
Twenty years to the day from its launch, North of England firm DJS Research has announced it is now an employee-owned business. More
Kantar has announced the formal integration of New Zealand's Colmar Brunton into its business, with the Colmar Brunton name to be phased out by the end of this year. All 121 staff in the country will join one of two new NZ divisions, Kantar or Kantar Public. More
KPMG Australia has shuffled the leadership team for its customer, brand and marketing advisory (CBMA) business, promoting Carmen Bekker to lead the expanded business. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has appointed former Nielsen CMO and We Work exec Marcy Shinder to its board of directors. More
Real-time consumer feedback and market intelligence platform Native.AI has launched a new offering for Food & Beverage (F&B) and CPG companies; and has secured $1.75m in strategic pre-seed funding. More
US-based retail data giant IRI has appointed former JP Morgan Chase Co. exec Cecilia Ogude as SVP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. More
Digital research firm MetrixLab has expanded its DACH business with a new office in Frankfurt and four senior appointments, following what it calls 'years of growing demand from local and global clients' in the region. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has hired former IBM exec Lauren Palmer as Senior Product Manager guiding its advertising research product strategy. More
Behavioural science consultancy The Behavioural Architects (TBA) UK has hired Tom Coombes as Director of Quantitative Research, with a remit to build and develop the firm's methodologies. More
Australia-based consulting business Fiftyfive5 says it has made 45 new hires in the last twelve months, 'across all geographies and levels', bringing its headcount to 147. More
Non-partisan research institution NORC at the University of Chicago and over-50s advocacy organization AARP have launched a survey panel called Foresight 50+, to provide insights from older adults living in the US. More
In the UK, mobile research tech firm RealityMine and transaction measurement services firm Rippll have partnered to allow clients single source access to digital behavioural capture and transaction data from Rippll's Open Banking technology. More
Comscore is to integrate its contextual Activation suite into ad tech company Viant's cross-channel programmatic ad platform, Adelphic, allowing Viant's advertisers to use Comscore's cookie-free targeting solutions. More
UK-based sensory and consumer research agency Sensory Dimensions has appointed long-time Mars Wrigley qual specialist Gemma Cudjoe to lead its Qualitative practice. More
In New York, ad agency TBWA has hired Alyson Stevens as Global Head of Connected Intelligence and Michael Horn as Global Head of Data Product, both newly created roles. More
Kantar has partnered with data collaboration platform InfoSum to help advertisers ad TGI consumer insights to their own first-party data, improving targeting. More
In New York, shopper insights specialist Behaviorally (previously known as PRS IN VIVO USA) has appointed long-time GfK exec Jola Burnett as Vice President, Client Development. More
US and Israel-based revenue intelligence provider Gong has raised $250m in a Series E round of funding, valuing the company at $7.25 billion. More
As the insight world emerges from the shadow of Covid, 'only around 50% of formerly face to face activity will revert to type', says Verve's Andy Dexter, introducing a month of features focused on Online Communities, for our forthcoming special issue. More
In New York, consumer insights platform Morning Consult has raised $60m in a Series B round of funding, which values the company at $1.01 billion. Funds will be used for development of its data collection technology and expansion into the EMEA and APAC regions. More
Kids, parents and family research specialist The Insights Family and US experiential youth marketing agency InspiredConsumer have partnered to produce research solutions for clients in the US. More
Cross-platform television ad measurement specialist TVSquared has added Foursquare's location data to its ADvantage platform, enabling users to connect linear and OTT/CTV ads to physical outcomes such as store visits and foot traffic, and understand how campaigns impact off-line consumer behavior. More
In New York, location data specialist GroundTruth has launched OTT/CTV advertising solutions using geo-contextual targeting, providing digital video advertisers with consumer insights based on off-line behavioral data. More
QYOU Media, which distributes content created by social media stars and digital content creators, has acquired India-based influencer marketing specialist Chtrbox for an undisclosed sum. More
Kantar's first quarter revenue was up 3% to $896m, with six of its seven divisions delivering growth. This includes double digit increases from the group's consumer and shopper behavior specialist Worldpanel, and public policy services provider Kantar Public. More
Mobile-first marketing platform Skydeo is expanding its ShoppingGraph data solution across more than 1,000 brands and products and over 3,000 unique audience segments, providing advertisers with consumer purchase history for programmatic and social media audience targeting. More
Kym Frank has resigned as President of out of home (OOH) audience measurement body Geopath. According to Mediapost, her decision relates to complaints from Board members following the launch of several industry standards by the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA). More
Consumer data company Pureprofile has expanded its media business Pure.amplify into the UK, where it will be led by Pureprofile's current Head of Performance Marketing, Catherine Jones. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has appointed Melanie LoBue as Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, based in the US. More
Packaging and shopper / consumer behaviour specialist PRS IN VIVO has launched a product development research tool called InnoCompass, promising to help pinpoint ideas with the highest market potential. More
UK-based kids, parents and family panels firm The Insights Family has released a free report called 'The New Generation of Families', highlighting trends across Europe such as the future of education. Other versions of the report are available for North America, LATAM and APAC. More
UK-based Measure Protocol, a blockchain-based marketplace for person-based data, has launched a solution called Storefront, to provide access to consumer-based behavioural data relating to what individuals are doing, consuming, and buying. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has launched an automated 'suite' of two products for insights and decision-making - Opportunity Alerts and Opportunity Predictors. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has made three hires to support growth across the EMEA and APAC regions. The firm says its international sales team has doubled in size, and is planned to triple by the end of the year. More
Baltic States research firm RAIT has announced the acquisition of Sweden's Fürst Scandinavian Research. More
Britain's MRS has awarded the Gold Medal, its most prestigious honour, to former NOP MD Phyllis Macfarlane; and announced new fellows including research tech writer Tim Macer and two inspirational former Chairs of B2B research group BIG, Claire Labrum and Trevor Wilkinson. More
Kantar Public has appointed Ben Humberstone, a former Deputy Director at the Office for National Statistics in a newly created role, Head of Population Studies for the UK More
London-based insight agency Opinium has launched an EU Barometer, to provide a snapshot of consumer sentiment across the European Union. The service promises a ten-day turnaround, from questionnaire sign-off to data delivery. More
UK-based insights firm Walnut Unlimited has taken on five new recruits, including Elisha Temminck and Alex Banks as Associate Directors. More
Northumberland, UK-based online research supplier Panelbase is opening an office in central London, where it has appointed Monica Kaur and James Ward to grow the business. More
Sports data technology company Genius Sports has acquired AI-powered sports data tracking and visualization solutions provider Second Spectrum, for $200m. More
Australia-based full-service MR agency DBM Consultants has appointed financial services specialist Andrew Kim as Managing Director in Singapore. More
Newly rebranded consumer intelligence giant NielsenIQ has announced the US launch of Byzzer, a subscription-based platform providing actionable insights for small and emerging CPG companies in sectors such as food, beauty, pet, alcoholic beverage and cannabis. More
Global industry association ESOMAR has teamed up with NewMR, Confirmit and more than twenty other organisations for the next wave of its survey among buyers and users of insights, measuring how usage and purchasing patterns are evolving. More
In India, marcoms group Rediffusion Brand Solutions has launched a specialist consumer research and analysis division called Rediffusion Consumer Lab (Red Lab), offering market research, consumer understanding and trend spotting services. More
New Zealand-based specialist product development and sensory evaluation business Futurescape has been renamed Imagine Research. More
Toronto, Canada-based employee-owned consumer packaged goods research specialist Hotspex has partnered with retail execution software provider Shelfgram to develop new MR products providing insights based on real-life shelf audits, at scale. More
London-based youth insight and panel business YouthSight has been acquired by Next15's data and insights group Savanta. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Online sample marketplace PureSpectrum has acquired Upwave's consumer research business Instant Insights, for an undisclosed sum; and has rebranded it as the PureSpectrum Insights platform. More
After four years at Tesco-owned customer data firm dunnhumby, CEO Guillaume Bacuvier has left the business, and has been replaced by Tesco Group Innovation Director Claire Lorains as interim CEO. Bacuvier has now joined consumer research platform Attest as an independent Director. More
Indonesia-based consumer insights provider Populix has raised $1.2m in a pre-Series A round of funding, which it will use to roll out new products and expand its marketing efforts. More
Kantar has launched what it says is South Africa's biggest ever consumer panel, measuring the FMCG purchasing behaviour of more than 6,500 local households at launch. More
In the US, customer engagement (CE) agency Inte Q has opened a new office in Milwaukee, staffed by former Kohl's Corporation brand marketing and analytics execs Jeremy Griffith, Adam Nenning, Nick Ratelis and Jessica Stemper. More
Kantar Chief Executive Alexis Nasard has stepped down after just four months in the role. Deputy CEO Ian Griffiths will lead the company until a new appointment is made. More
Chicago-based consumer and market intelligence company Numerator has launched an omnichannel market share measurement system called TruView, for use by CPG brands and retailers. More
Shopper insights firm Behaviorally has expanded its EU team with the appointment of Adeline Adam as Vice President, Market Development, based in Geneva. More
Ipsos has posted revenue of EUR 466.3m in the first quarter of 2021, up 8.8% from Q1 2020 and up 10.5% from Q1 2019. Like-for-like, the increase was 14.1%, driven by a very strong performance in EMEA. More
Insights and data firm Pureprofile has reported revenues up 25% to $7.1m in the first three months of 2021; and says it plans to launch new partnerships, plus panels in Europe and Asia. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has expanded its omnichannel measurement capabilities with the launch of two solutions: IRI OmniMarket and IRI OmniConsumer. The firm has also acquired the CoinOut app, whose 1.5 million members submit in-store and online receipts in exchange for cash. More
New York-based consumer insights platform Suzy has appointed long-time Nielsen exec Amy YaWen Chiu as Director of Research Strategy. More
Immersive research firm Further&Further has added four new members of staff to its North American team, including former Synovate CFO Richard McQuarrie as Finance Director; and says it plans to double in size. More
Kantar has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Chicago-based consumer and market intelligence company Numerator from investment firm Vista Equity Partners. Sources suggest the deal is worth about $1.5 billion. More
Central European research firms Integral, Sinus and Opinion have merged to form ISO, described as 'a medium-sized group, owner-managed and independent'. More
Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally (previously known as PRS IN VIVO USA) has expanded into Asia, opening hubs in both Singapore and Shanghai. Former PRS IN VIVO execs Nichole Gu and Melvin Ng join as Managing Director, Asia and Vice President, Market Development respectively. More
Digital research firm Alligator has teamed up with rural qual recruitment expert FieldMouse to launch a panel of farmers and farm workers, Opinion Harvester. More
Scott Brown, former General Manager, Audience Measurement at Nielsen, is leaving to join information giant Experian. More
Australian data intelligence company Potentiate has promoted Melissa Riley to Head of Client Services, Ante Grabovac to Solutions Engineer, and Amanda Roach to Growth Hacker. More
US-based consumer insight specialist Numerator has announced a multi-year investment to expand its household measurement panel to more than a million members. More
In the US, brand marketing platform Targetable has acquired ShopAdvisor, which provides mobile proximity marketing and analytic solutions for restaurants and hospitality brands, CPG brands and their digital agency partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In London, full-service agency DVJ Insights has appointed former Hall & Partners exec Bethan Palmer as a Client Consultant. More
Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally (previously known as PRS IN VIVO USA) has launched an AI-based computer vision technology called Flash.AI, for evaluating early-stage packaging designs. More
Singapore-based retail and consumer goods analytics firm Trax has raised $640m in a Series E round of funding, which it will use to expand its team, scale its business, and drive long-term growth. More
UK-based marcoms group Next Fifteen Communications has acquired predictive data-led business Shopper Media Group (SMG) and its subsidiaries - Capture Marketing, Lobster Agency, and Threefold Agency - for £15.7m. More
Consumer intelligence platform NielsenIQ has launched an 'Omnishopper' solution, helping clients to understand a variety of consumer behavior across the US marketplace. More
Four specialists from different marketing disciplines have launched a collective called Crater Lake & Co, bringing together marketing analytics, creative strategy, media planning and market research to provide answers to questions around clients' marketing decisions. More
Media and entertainment company Australian Radio Network (ARN) has launched an audience and commercial insights series called Australia Unplugged, promising to 'dig deep' to answer the questions about what's really on audio consumers' minds. More
YouGov has launched a templated suite of brand research approaches called Consumer Journey Diagnostics, which it says 'blends the depth of custom research with the cost-effectiveness and speed of syndicated data'. More
For the third of our new video podcasts, we're Zooming In on Gary Drenik, co-founder and CEO of Prosper. If you're interested in the collection and modeling of consumer data (USA and China) this is a must. More
In the US, AI-based qualitative research provider Emozo Labs has partnered with data collection firm Global Survey to use artificial intelligence to better understand customers' conscious and unconscious responses. More
Brand researcher and consultancy Hall & Partners has launched A(i)LIVE, which incorporates behavioural and survey data from Dynata and technology from consumer intelligence tool Powr of You in what it calls 'the world's first 'living' market segmentation tool'. More
In the UK, foodservice sector customer ratings specialist Feed It Back has received a 'multi-million pound' investment from telecoms entrepreneur James Palmer, who becomes majority shareholder. The firm will expand its team and create new products and services. More
In New York, consumer insights provider Feedback Loop has raised $14m in an add-on Series A round of funding, which it will use to accelerate product development and drive adoption of its platform. More
In the US, behavioral research specialist EyeSee has appointed long-time PRS exec Heather Graham as Business Development Director. More
The Insight Climate Collective (ICC), a group calling on the industry to come together and play its part in tackling the environmental crisis, has appointed a Steering Committee to help put its strategy into action. More
Nielsen has moved Sandra Sims-Williams to the role of Chief Diversity Officer, taking over from CEO David Kenny, who has held both roles since February 2019. More
Full-service agency DVJ Insights has appointed Jemma Toynebee-Smith as Client Consultant in its UK team, based in London. More
Trade association ESOMAR has named ScaleHouse Consulting founder Kristin Luck as President of its Council, replacing Joaquim Bretcha of Netquest who has completed his two-year term. MindSpark founder Nikki Lavoie is the new Vice President, and five of the remaining eight members are also women. More
Social media analyst Meltwater is to acquire French company Linkfluence, which uses artificial intelligence to mine social media for consumer insights. The agreed price of EUR 50m comprises a combination of cash, equity and earn-out. More
US-based Escalent, formerly Market Strategies International-Morpace, has promoted five of its team to the rank of Vice President, while hiring former Toluna exec Rick Naff as Vice President, Technology and Consumer & Retail. More
In the UK, long-time industry executive Neil Callaghan has re-joined tech-enabled MR and customer insights firm Maru Group in the role of Business Development Director. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has acquired retail insight provider Intelligence Shopper Solutions (ISS) from Canadian platform Kognitiv Corporation. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
London-based and family-focused insight and creative marketing agency Kids Industries (KI) has partnered with similar agencies in France, Germany and Spain to create a European industry network called The League. More
Former Kantar TNS East Africa CEO Aggrey Maposa died last Tuesday, after battling a long-term illness. More
UK agency STRAT7 Bonamy Finch has appointed former Britvic and GSK researcher John McBride as Director Insights & Impact. The firm also recently added Femi Akinlabi and Ben Frost to its Advanced Analytics team. More
Oxfordshire, UK-based brand, NPD, category and shopper consultancy Touchstone Shoppercentric has appointed Savanta veteran Ian Hext as Research Director. More
UK-headquartered kids, parents and family panels firm The Insights People is expanding to Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea, surveying around 410 kids and around 205 parents of children in each country. More
Nordic-based automated product and concept testing platform Cambri has raised EUR 3.6m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use for global expansion. In addition, Lynda Clarizio, former President of Nielsen US Media, has joined the company's Board of Directors. More
In Melbourne, Kantar has promoted Jon Foged to the newly created role of Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Insights arm - he was previously CEO of the division in Australia. Jason Shoebridge, CEO of Kantar New Zealand, will leave the business in April. More
GfK has announced the launch of Brand Architect, a new framework which it says bridges the gap between consumer attitudes and actual behavior, to measure the strength of brands. More
StreamPulse, the in-home division of Texas-based neuromarketing researcher MediaScience has teamed up with neurometric equipment manufacturer Shimmer to develop StreamPulse Neuro, a system for measuring consumers' emotional response in a natural viewing environment. More
Nielsen has completed the previously announced sale of its consumer intelligence business NielsenIQ (formerly Nielsen Global Connect) for $2.7bn to affiliates of Advent Interrnational, in partnership with former TransUnion CEO James 'Jim' Peck. More
YouGov has acquired Toronto, Canada-based sports research firm Charlton Insights, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, taste intelligence company Halla has appointed retail and shopper insights exec Brian Murphy as EVP of Business Transformation. Separately, the firm has added Professor Alexander Tuzhilin and former Tesco CEO James McCann to its Advisory Board. More
In the US, brand measurement specialist Vrity has launched a service called Values Return Index (VRI), connecting purchase propensity to brand sentiment across twenty values-based categories such as sustainability, equality, innovation and affordability. More
Restaurant network Yum! Brands is to buy the artificial intelligence-based consumer insights and marketing performance analytics business of US firm Kvantum. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Data from Kantar's Great Britain TGI consumer survey will now be updated and released on a monthly basis, in response to what the firm says are evolving demands for consumer insight. More
UK-based kids, parents & family panels firm The Insights People has added eight new team members since the start of the year, taking its headcount to 54, with a further 16 hires planned. The firm says that so far in 2021 it has added one new client every week. More
UK industry charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) is launching its annual fundraising auction on the International Day of Happiness on 20th March. This year's event will be known as the 'Donate a Smile' auction. More
In the UK, Blue Yonder Research has launched an R&D insight and product testing facility called Sense:Lab. More
Ipsos has reported Covid-hit full-year revenue of EUR 1.8bn, down 6.5% on a like-for-like basis, but managed organic growth of 1.4% in Q4 (vs Q4 2019). Negative currency effects dented reported figures for both periods. More
Nielsen has reported fourth quarter 2020 net income of $35m, compared to a loss of $109m in the prior year period. Revenue for the period fell just 1.1% to $1.67bn, while adjusted EBITDA was $560m, up 13.8%. For the full year, the company almost broke even, on revenues down 3.2%. More
YouGov has hired Hideyuki (Andy) Hata for a newly created role, Senior Strategic Advisor, YouGov Sport, tasked with establishing the business's commercial operations in Tokyo. More
In the US, consumer insight specialist Numerator has launched the Sweet Treat Tracker, which monitors omnichannel sales trends across the 'indulgence' category. More
Tech-enabled MR and customer insights group Maru has launched a combined System 1 and System 2 research solution called 'Brand Health Tracking', promising a holistic view of brand performance at speed. More
Digital MR products and solutions company Borderless Access has launched its proprietary MR panel community in two new Latin American and two European markets: Ecuador, Peru, France and Italy. More
Behavioural research specialist EyeSee has opened a new sales office in Singapore and an operations office in Mexico City, following a year of record growth in 2020. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insights business Vypr has appointed Cint exec Richard Thornton to its board, following a £2.5m investment last month by YFM Equity Partners. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has promoted four and hired three new employees as part of its expansion in the US. The promotees include thinqonline co-founder Mark Martins, who is now Americas EVP as well as Asia Pacific General Manager. More
Following its management buyout last month, French research and consulting firm BVA Group says it will reposition itself as an 'experience champion', and will take a more international and more 'participative' approach. More
New York-based customer lifecycle marketing company Zeta Global has promoted Neej Gore to the role of Chief Data Officer, leading its global data and analytics strategy, and continuing the development of its identity graph. More
In New York, insights provider Consumer Edge (CE) has acquired web data firm Savvr for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US Kevin Kruper and Rocky Prozeller, former directors of British-based MR firm Incite, have launched a boutique insights consultancy called Old Salt. More
SurveyMonkey has announced that its CX solution GetFeedback will integrate with cross-channel shopper personalisation platform Salesforce Commerce Cloud. More
The second of our new video podcasts is with Eugene Murphy of indeemo and includes discussion of mobile ethnography, the future of shopping, the impact of the pandemic on research methods and budgets, and the potential for qualitative in the post-Covid world. More
Ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has set up an Enterprise Team to help large organisations drive global business impact through insights. The new team is led by Babita Earle, with the title of EVP of Global Enterprise Customers and Partnerships. More
Crispin Beale, former Group CEO of Chime Insight & Engagement, has been appointed as an Advisor to the management team of shopper insights specialist Behaviorally (previously known as PRS IN VIVO USA); supporting the company's growth strategy in the UK and across Europe. More
US-based custom market research firm AMC Global has appointed long time GfK exec Christien Little as Vice President of Insights & Strategy. More
Specialist design research agency The Big Picture has launched a quant methodology called DesignCounts, to help validate and optimise new pack designs. More
In the UK, retail association The Co-Op has appointed former BBC exec Phil Barker as Head of Customer Experience (CX) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), as it expands its Data and Loyalty teams. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has brought in six new graduates in its Sydney office and one in Auckland. They are joined by Caelan Bistram who started as an intern last year. More
US-based purchase intent insight provider V12 has launched a consumer targeting solution called Vistas Lifestyle and Shopping Segmentation, based on in-market store shopping behavior rather than self-reported feedback. More
New York-based location intelligence firm PlaceIQ has acquired the Geospatial Insights business from location tech firm Skyhook Wireless. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
London-based strategy and insights consultancy Rainmakers CSI has appointed Lucinda Davies, George Randell and Sotiria Kalpachtsi as Consultants. More
Today we kick off our video podcast series with a closer look at how luxury markets are faring in time of Covid, and the challenges of researching this sector. MrWeb's Nick Thomas talks to Lars Long, Chief Executive of Altiant. More
From this week, Daily Research News will feature video interviews of around 20-25 minutes with leading figures in the insights and analytics world, giving you more depth on some of the stories in the news, and talking about themselves, their companies and their views. More
Retail data firm The NPD Group has appointed former Kantar exec Edurne Uranga as Head of Foodservice Spain. More
North of England-based full service agency DJS Research has appointed eight new members of staff, including Cara Rodwell as Field & Data Services Director. Of the new hires, six will work remotely, giving the company a 'presence' in Glasgow, Birmingham, Kent, the Cotswolds and Devon. More
Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally (previously known as PRS IN VIVO USA) has named Sam Albert as its first Chief Digital Officer. More
In the US, TV ad measurement specialist EDO has hired John Cripps as Senior Vice President of Convergent Measurement, Peter Foley as Head of Data Science, Diane Staffan as Head of Product Strategy, and Gowtham Prakash as Manager of Data Engineering. More
European customer service specialist Dive has acquired Norwegian mystery shopping and customer satisfaction agency Ukjent Kunde. Terms were not disclosed. More
Australia-based digital research platform Pureprofile has appointed former Kantar exec Young Ham as Head of Data, Innovation and Product; plus Kate Richards as Interim Head of Sales, Data & Insights ANZ, and Tom Hamilton as Senior Account Director. More
Kantar has hired former Mindshare exec Paul Sturgeon for a newly created role, leading its Brand and Marketing ROI offer in the UK. More
New Jersey-based MR and applied consumer neuroscience company HCD Research has launched a service called 'Implicit On-Demand', allowing clients to rapidly design, integrate and report studies of the consumer subconscious. More
In France, BVA Group has promoted Karen Gombault and Olivier Blanchet to serve as Chief Executive Officers of shopper specialist PRS IN VIVO worldwide. This follows the recent sale of PRS IN VIVO USA, now known as Behaviorally and run by former PRS IN VIVO Global CEO Alex Hunt. More
Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally (known until last week as PRS IN VIVO USA) has appointed Stefan Barden as Non-Executive Chair of its Board of Directors. More
Australia-based digital research platform Pureprofile has announced a record 26% increase in revenue for the quarter ending 31st December 2020. The total of $8.2m was driven by strong performance in all business units, and was 'well ahead of expectations', according to the firm. More
In the UK, Gail Balfour, co-founder of consumer research and brand consulting business Tangible Branding, has launched a new company called Research Human, promising to understand the consumer by 'connecting with the human'. More
In the UK, marketing and customer analytics consultancy STRAT7 has appointed former Kantar exec Giles Darby as Group Commercial Director; Richard Morland as Group Marketing Director; and Oliver Gwynne as Content & Digital Marketing Manager. More
Comscore has announced the launch of Movies Everywhere, which promises daily reporting of box office movie performance across all platforms. More
In the US, purchase intent data firm V12 has been acquired by home services sector software company Porch Group for an undisclosed sum. More
Tesco-owned customer data firm dunnhumby is preparing to launch an enterprise edition of its Model Lab machine learning automation tool for data scientists, built on cloud computing service Microsoft Azure. The tool will initially be available in the US. More
In the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced plans to publish credit and debit card transaction data from the Bank of England, to help analyse how individuals have been spending their money during the past twelve months. More
Shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO USA has been renamed Behaviorally, following its sale to new majority shareholder Alcentra. More
The management team of French research and consulting firm BVA Group and its main shareholder Naxicap (together known as XPage) have been given the green light to acquire the company, which went into receivership last summer. The group's US arm has been acquired by British asset management firm Alcentra. More
UK-based insights firm Walnut Unlimited has extended its range of pack testing options with the launch of Agile PACKMASTER, promising help to 'those looking for quick results on a tighter budget'. More
Automated ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has hired Alison Scott as Senior Director, Customer Transformation, and Mary Lou Barney as Vice President, Strategic Accounts. The firm has also promoted Patricia Montesdeoca, Michelle Wu and Zontziry Johnson. More
Paris, France-based MR firm OpinionWay has appointed long-time Kantar exec Maurice Benguigui as Deputy Director FMCG, in its Consumer Marketing Department. The firm has also made a number of other senior appointments and promotions. More
Netherlands-based full-service agency DVJ Insights has promoted Jori van de Spijker to the role of Managing Consultant Netherlands, while Judith Lieftink has joined the firm as Research Director. More
Ipsos has appointed Vicky Abad as Country Manager for the Philippines, replacing Marie Lee, who retired in December 2020 having led the business there for the past eight years. More
UK industry charity the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA) has issued a statement reminding those suffering from financial difficulties or other personal problems as a result of the pandemic and the new lockdown, that it is able to provide support. More
In New York, audience tech platform Eyeota has appointed Bombora co-founder Rob Armstrong as Vice President of Product. More
UK-based firm The Insights People has rolled out its Parents Insights service across thirteen countries, surveying 130,000 parents of children between the age of one and sixteen. Also new is a trend prediction service called 'Parents Insights Future Forecast'. More
In the US, customer intelligence company Retina has rolled out a customer lifetime value (CLV) enrichment platform, to identify high-value customers before they make their first purchase. More
US-based behavioral research firm InsightsNow has opened an Innovation Center, through which users can access the latest insights regarding changing consumer behavior and methods for tracking it. More
In the UK, sandwich shop franchise Pret A Manger has hired Dan Burdett as Chief Customer & Growth Officer, responsible for setting the group's global direction across food innovation, coffee and packaging, brand and insight, sustainability, technical, quality and commercial growth. More
UK-based full service agency Boxclever has announced three new appointments: Victoria Williams as Associate Director, Bethan Blakely as Analytics Director and Kate Skivinton as Research Director. More
Kantar has announced an exclusive partnership AI-powered search intelligence company Adthena, whose worldwide search data will be integrated into the insights giant's Ad Intelligence platform. More
UK-based research firm Field Scope International (FSI) has opened an office in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, serving increased demand for research in Sub-Saharan Africa. More
DRNO is taking a break now until 4th January. It's been a strange old 12 months, but we're looking forward greatly to 2021. We wish those of you doing it a fantastic Christmas, and everyone a great New Year. More
US-based behavioral specialist Sentient Decision Science has been awarded a patent for its 'Sentient Prime' emotion measurement technology. More
In the US, restaurant sector marketing and analytics platform Fishbowl has changed its name to Personica, and launched a loyalty program it says will help restaurants collect and use member, campaign and transactional data to build guest relationships with every interaction. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI and business intelligence provider 1010data have partnered to jointly develop new products and solutions to enhance CPG retailers' and manufacturers' use of data to drive growth. More
Cross-channel CX platform Iterable has launched a personalization solution called Brand Affinity, to help marketers measure sentiment and create more 'meaningful' customer experiences. More
US-based consultancy Lift361 has launched a marketing analytics platform called ShopFluency, combining store data with insights gathered from a number of other sources to build data-rich customer profiles for use in targeting campaigns. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has appointed Suellen Ravanas as Global Chief Financial Officer. More
Kids, tweens and teens market intelligence specialist The Insights People has appointed four new team members and moved to a new 2,000 square foot office on Manchester's Portland Street. More
Consumer data giant IRI has launched a solution called IRI Integrated Fresh, to track sales of random weight as well as traditional UPC (universal product code) items, and provide retailers and manufactures with a 'holistic' view of the store. More
In London, mobile-based customer insights platform Streetbees has added $6.7m to its $40m Series B round of funding, which it says will provide its founders, early employees and angel investors with liquid assets. More
Tokyo-based marcoms giant dentsu is planning to cut 6,000 jobs - around 12.5 per cent of its 46,560-strong workforce based outside Japan - in the next twelve months, as a result of the downturn in global spending caused by Covid-19. The group says it will also eliminate 154 of its brands. More
US-based youth and family researcher Smarty Pants has hired Molly Jackson for a newly created position, 'Insights Mastermind' and Senior Director, based in the Baltimore, MD area. More
UK-based Walnut Unlimited has appointed former Kantar Head of Shopper Ivan Browne to lead its own, newly enhanced shopper research offer. More
US-based insights and strategy consultancy Protobrand has appointed long-time Kadence International exec Owen Jenkins as Vice President of Client Services, and former Nielsen and Ipsos exec Chris Parker as Manager of Client Services. More
Retail and consumer goods analytics firm Trax has rolled out its Retail Watch store intelligence solution in China, where it has developed a shelf monitoring robot using shelf-edge and ceiling cameras to provide retailers with 'eyes in the store'. More
Former Nielsen Chief Executive Mitch Barns has joined the Board of automated ad and innovation testing platform Zappi. More
Emotion and behavior insights specialist Canvs AI has added topical analysis to its Canvs TV and Canvs Social products, including analysis of neutral and emotional comments to help brands understand how their customers are feeling about particular subjects and issues. More
Tesco-owned customer data firm dunnhumby has promoted Grant Steadman to the role of President of North America, focusing on growing and expanding partnerships with retailers and brands throughout the region. More
Potomac, Maryland-based consumer sample provider Full Circle Research has appointed former OpinionRoute and Research Now exec Rebecca Fuener as Regional Sales Director, responsible for expanding and developing the company's Midwest client base. More
UK-based Walnut Unlimited has expanded its shopper research toolkit, adding behavioural science, neuroscience and advanced analytics. More
Canadian polling, MR and strategy firm Leger has acquired SmartPoint Research, a Toronto-based firm specializing in the consumer and healthcare sectors. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Luxury markets specialist Altiant has launched the 'Millionaire Media Consumption Subscription', which analyses the habits of a thousand individuals with investible assets of at least $US 1 million, spread over four markets. More
Sainsbury's loyalty and insights business Nectar360 has partnered with tech CitrusAd to launch a retail media platform allowing targeted sponsored product offers, banner advertising and analytics across the Sainsburys.co.uk web site. More
In London, retail scenario testing firm Virtual Store Trials (VST) has appointed long-time industry execs Helen Davis and Charlotte Kiddle as Account Directors, to lead partnerships with FMCG retailers and CPG brands. The company is also planning to open a US office next year. More
In Europe, data-driven digital signage provider Intuiface and face analysis specialist Sightcorp have integrated their solutions to create a no-code approach to running and measuring digital out-of-home ad placements, delivering individually targeted content at the right time and place. More
Israel-based consumer journey analytics platform Konnecto has raised $3.5m in a seed round of funding, which it will use to increase its Data Science team and expand into new verticals and geographies. More
Global consulting group Accenture has agreed to acquire boutique analytics and data science consultancy End-to-End Analytics, which is based in Palo Alto, CA, with additional offices in Brazil. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Swedish brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa has reported its 'strongest operating profit ever', SEK 5.9m for the third quarter of calendar 2021, compared with a loss of SEK -13.9m a year earlier, on the back of reductions in personnel costs and other expenses. More
Australia-based digital research platform Pureprofile has appointed long-time industry exec Johnny Caldwell for its newly created role of Senior Business Development Director in the UK. More
UK-based marketing and customer analytics consultancy STRAT7 has acquired cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, TV software and data platform VideoAmp has launched a cross-channel campaign attribution solution for measurement, planning and audience activation, called Campaign Optimizer. The launch follows the acquisition of Conversion Logic earlier in the year. More
Behavioral data intelligence company Jornaya has updated its flagship Activate solution, with the addition of consumer behavioral data and insights to help marketers identify who is activity shopping, at what time of day, and how frequently they are spending. More
Nielsen is launching its own ID resolution system, which it says will support cross-media measurement in a cookieless world. More
UK-based brand communications and experience research agency The Nursery has become employee-owned, with rights transferred to a trust set up for the benefit of all staff. More
YouGov has acquired Turkish online-focused MR firm Wizsight for an undisclosed sum. The company will be renamed YouGov Turkey. More
In the UK, food and drink sector research and support organisation Campden BRI has announced that current COO Pete Headridge will become Chief Executive on 1st January 2021, following the retirement of Chris Huscroft. More
In New York, the Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has announced plans to acquire non-profit member organization the Marketing Science Institute (MSI). According to ARF, the deal will help it to continue expanding its member base, bringing in B2B and DTC (direct to consumer) marketers. More
Nielsen Global Connect and management consultancy Bain & Company have partnered to help clients in the consumer packaged goods industry improve capabilities across pricing, promotions, assortment optimization and customer planning. More
In San Francisco, customer relationship management (CRM) specialist Insightly has added a number of features to its Insightly Marketing platform, including tools for list segmentation, A/B and multivariate testing, and marketing analytics. More
In Barcelona, Spain, pricing automation and sales forecasting specialist Optimus Price has merged with price and competitor monitoring business Athena under the former company's brand name. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Kantar's former virtual reality (VR) research specialist Alki Manias has joined Sydney, Australia-headquartered shopper research business StoreLab as Vice President, charged with leading the firm's expansion into the EMEA and Americas regions. He will be based in London. More
UK-based Walnut Unlimited have launched adMIRE, a new comms, media and ad testing approach using a single bespoke online survey and combining facial coding, implicit reaction time testing and explicit measurement. More
UK-based branding and innovation agency Brand Potential has partnered with structural and sustainable design consultancy Touch to launch HALO, a joint venture focused on insight and innovation and promising to help clients with sustainable pack and product innovation. More
Chicago-based analytics firm Wavicle Data Solutions has announced four hires for its leadership team: Patrick McDonald, Director of Data Science; Dave Abatangelo, Director of Data Visualization; Anthony Lempelius, VP of Sales; and Heidi Bonjean, Director of Marketing. More
US-based researcher The NPD Group has acquired Pricing Excellence, a retail analytics company. Founder Nathan Krol joins NPD and will continue to lead the business for his firm's current product offerings Market Insight and Data Ladder, now potentially enhanced with NPD data. More
Retail data giant IRI has launched a solution called Daily On-Premise Tracking, providing restaurant suppliers with point-of-sale data drawn from 10,000 locations across the country. The firm says the four day delivery time is 'the fastest in the industry'. More
Nielsen has found a buyer for its Global Connect business, in the shape of affiliates of private equity investor Advent and with a price tag of $2.7bn. More
Nielsen has announced revenues of $1,563m for the third quarter of 2020, down 3.3% year-on-year on a reported basis, and 3.0% at constant currency. Adjusted EBITDA was $501m, equivalent to a 6.1% rise at constant currency. More
Consumer data giant IRI and product data specialist Label Insight have expanded their relationship to help CPG marketers design marketing campaigns based on consumer demand for product attributes such as 'gluten-free' and 'sustainably sourced'. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 is launching a creative evaluation framework, Ad Optimi5er, after a year of internal development in partnership with key clients. More
Consumer intelligence platform Toluna has secured a 'significant' round of financing, which it will use to fund planned global growth initiatives. More
Former ESOMAR President Dan Foreman has made an undisclosed amount of investment in retail tech provider Virtual Store Trials (VST), which offers AI solutions for shelf and pack testing, macro-space optimization, planogram visualization, and automated planogram builds. More
Our Data Visualization special issue is published today. Here, in his Introduction, Ipsos co-founder & CEO Didier Truchot talks about clients' need for clarity, AI's potential to change our industry, and why insight professionals should be confident about the future. More
In London, mobile-based customer insights firm Streetbees has raised $40m in a Series B round of funding, which it will use to accelerate development of its platform, and increase headcount from 100 to 230 during the next twelve months. More
Nielsen has announced that is consumer business will be renamed NielsenIQ, once it becomes a standalone company. Separately, a report in the Financial Times suggests that private equity group Advent International is in talks to buy the division in a deal valuing it at about $2.9bn. More
In Los Angeles, full service MR firm Alter Agents has appointed five new members of staff, including Lauren DeWitt Thompson as Research Director; Ryan Palmer, Adrienne Scotti and Roxanne Benoun as Research Managers, and Taryn Akiyoshi as a Senior Research Analyst. More
Ipsos has posted revenue of EUR 468.6m in the third quarter of 2020, down 6.2% on a reported basis but just 3.3% on a like-for-like, constant currency basis despite the impact of the pandemic. The group says this reflects 'a renewed stability since June', with recovery month by month. More
UK market research budgets experienced another 'marked decline' in the third quarter - the second sharpest since data collection for this category started in the final quarter of 2012 - according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. More
In the US, eCommerce giant Amazon has launched an invite-only panel through which participants can earn monthly rewards by sharing receipts from purchases made outside of Amazon.com, and by completing short surveys. More
In London, Kantar has appointed long-time Procter & Gamble exec Alexis Nasard as Chief Executive Officer, effective 30th December. He replaces Eric Salama, who left the business in February. More
Tesco-owned customer data firm dunnhumby and retail media platform CitrusAd have announced a partnership. The resulting solution uses historical data from a customer's off- and online purchasing behaviour to help retailers showcase relevant products to shoppers using non-interruptive native ads. More
In the UK, full-service agency Research Strategy Group has appointed Michael Dorr as Senior Vice President, heading its London office. More
Customer insights platform UserTesting has announced the acquisition of the technology assets of usabiliTEST, a provider of information architecture testing solutions; alongside product innovations promising to speed up clients' 'discovery of the moments that matter'. More
In Los Angeles, insights design and strategy agency Hypothesis has appointed former Millward Brown North America CEO Mary Ann Packo as a Senior Partner, leading client growth, research innovation and talent acquisition. More
Manchester, UK-based market intelligence provider Kids Insights has expanded to Russia and China. More
UK-based customer feedback specialist Platform One has combined its insight community and experience management tools into a single application called 'Vision', to help clients identify and recruit community members based on experience touchpoints. More
Customer modeling platform Genus AI has launched a new artificial intelligence solution for eCommerce and direct-to-consumer brands. More
In London, insights and planning agency kubi kalloo has appointed Oscar Runeland as Director of Brand, leading its consultancy offer. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has acquired Retail Solutions, Inc. (RSi), which provides supply chain solutions for CPG manufacturers and retailers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Kicking off a week and a half of articles from our forthcoming Data Visualization special issue, Ipsos.Digital CEO Andrei Postoaca backs AI to unlock its full potential behind the scenes within ten years, allowing business needs to return to centre stage. More
In Australia, Derham Insights Research has launched a solution called the Five Key Customer Insights Monitor, providing a 'quick, targeted, and cost-effective measure' of customers' attitudes and intentions towards a client's business overall, or to individual brands. More
US-based marketing consultancy 444ignite has launched a tool called Ignite Consumer Intelligence Engine, to help marketers enhance both their consumer intelligence and the performance of their ad campaigns. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has hired former Kantar ADs Sharon Blair and Roger Kong as new members of its Melbourne team. More
Last year, research revenue for the Top 50 US-based market research and data analytics companies rose 4.8% to $14.8bn - comprising an almost equal split of domestic (50.2%) and international (49.8%) business - according to the latest annual Top 50 Report. More
In Australia, cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has appointed former Vice Media APAC Head of Insight Stephanie Winkler, as a Director. More
Nielsen has expanded the US digital capabilities of its Ad Intel advertising intelligence solution, adding search data as a new media type, and offering more digital advertising data for mobile, desktop, display and video placements. More
In the UK, full-service agency Vision One has promoted Kendra Furey and Alex Brown to Client Success Manager, while Raluca Bobutanu joins as a Research Executive supporting the firm's qual and international research operations. More
Nielsen has launched a Canadian consumer intelligence tool called Homescan Trip Projection, which reduces panel bias by combining geographic and demographic representation with shopper trip behaviour. More
Insight agency PRS IN VIVO has launched a tool called Shopper Flash, to help retail marketers rapidly plan and develop in-store tools such as planograms, merchandising, and point-of-sale displays. More
Nielsen has announced that the headquarters for its Global Consumer Business will be in Chicago, from January 1st, 2021. More
Marcoms group Dentsu Aegis Network is to change its name to Dentsu International Limited, dropping a name it acquired with the purchase in 2012 of British-owned Aegis Group. More
Kantar is to launch its BrandZ index in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, ranking the top 30 most valuable brands across the two countries combined in terms of dollar value. More
Kantar is planning to cut around ten percent of its US staff due to the impact of the pandemic, according to online reports. More
Television measurement, attribution and analytics company 605 has signed an agreement with retail giant Walmart, to provide ad impact and audience analysis via its PLATF0RM solution. More
European data collection company Norstat has hired Evelin Pae as MD for its Estonia business, replacing Kaspar Küünarpuu who has left the company. More
In Bogota, customer data pioneer dunnhumby has appointed Andres Hernández as Head of its Columbian business. He reports directly to Simon Jury, Head of Latin America. More
Stockholm-based affluent fieldwork specialist Altiant has launched LuxPoll, a new 'agile' product allowing researchers to collect one hundred validated interviews among affluent people in ten or more markets and receive actionable results back in 'days, not weeks'. More
Australian digital research platform Pureprofile has appointed Keith Ang in the new role of Client Solutions Director. Ang worked most recently as Client Development Manager at Kantar Profiles. More
UK professional body the MRS has noted a slight positive shift in the expectations of companies in the post-Covid world; and has downgraded its earlier call on the government to 'save the sector' to a more modest appeal for investment in infrastructure and innovation. More
London-based data company TeakOrigin has partnered with mobile intelligence platform Streetbees to launch a study to understand the link between nutritional value and consumption of fresh produce. More
First-party data and insights platform Dynata has acquired UK-based digital ethnography solution CrowdLab, which captures in-the-moment consumer opinions, attitudes and trends. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
YouGov has expanded in the Asia Pacific region through a partnership with Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam-based behavioural science specialist Decision Lab. More
IBM has partnered with Nielsen Global to launch a solution called 'Watson Advertising Weather Targeting', designed to help marketers make the connection between weather and product sales, without the use of third-party cookies or identifiers. More
US-based strategy and custom research firm Magid has hired Tiffany Vasilchik as Senior Vice President of Growth Strategy in its Consumer & Commercial Brands practice. She will be based in New York City. More
TV measurement and analytics company 605 has announced new data partnerships with Catalina, PlaceIQ and Polk Automotive Solutions by IHS Markit, combining ad exposure and content viewership with consumer behavior and business outcomes on a 'massive scale'. More
UK-based agency Walnut Unlimited has launched 'TrueLiking', a product testing approach incorporating emotional responses to stimulus through a combination of neuroscientific implicit testing and standard product and sensory testing techniques. More
In the US, 360° consumer intelligence and location analytics provider InMarket has acquired location data-led customer growth platform NinthDecimal, for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has appointed Jeremy Allen as President of Market and Shopper Intelligence (MSI), responsible for leading and further enhancing solutions in the area. More
In the US, AI-based insights platform Birdie has appointed long-time industry exec Ted Clark as Chief Operating Officer, charged with overseeing operations, leading the Client Services team, and driving the firm's growth and business development. More
In Melbourne, Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has appointed long-time Colmar Brunton exec Jenny Witham as a Director, while Michelle Newton joins as Marketing Director. More
Nielsen has teamed up with data management platform (DMP) Lotame to launch purchase-based audience segments in Taiwan, built on retail and FMCG behavioral data. More
In the US, custom research firm AMC Global has added six new staff: Caitlin Connor as Associate Project Director, Robin Franke as Research Director; and Doug Galante, Reene Kalola, Mariah Kern and Nichole Smith. More
Middle East agency 4SiGHT has appointed former Ipsos UAE Chief Client Officer Arup Bose as Partner - Insights & Strategy, starting last week. More
Hall & Partners has teamed up with first-party data and insights platform Dynata, whose connected data capabilities and technology will power the ad and brand research specialist's data visualization and storytelling platform, The Hub. More
US-based research agency Gongos has partnered with audience insights platform DISQO, to offer organizations an 'agnostic digital consumer view' of brands and their categories. More
Tesco-owned customer data firm dunnhumby has launched a web-based app called the Model Lab on Microsoft's cloud platform Azure, in a move to enable data scientists to deliver customer insights faster. More
In the US, marketing and consumer sciences firm HCD Research has partnered with neuroscience and consumer research specialist Dr Martha Bajec to launch a new unit focused on consumer health and wellness products. More
Australian data intelligence company Potentiate and New Zealand-based longitudinal relationship analytics specialist MirrorWave have partnered, to provide a service which 'follows' customers, employees and partners over time. More
Audience technology platform Eyeota has achieved certification from the IAB's Tech Lab industry standards body for the latter's recently launched 'Data Transparency Standard Compliance Program'. More
Research and analytics company MESH Experience has partnered with insights software and services agency Cambrian Analytics to build an interactive dashboard providing insights on brand performance. More
Experience management company Qualtrics has added advanced analytics capabilities to its BrandXM solution, helps organizations take control of how consumers experience their brand. More
In the US, full service marketing research and insight training agency Burke has appointed former Kantar exec James Sorensen as Senior Vice President in Client Services, with a specialization in retail and shopper insights. More
In the US, shopper targeting firm Valassis has launched a solution called Connected Analytics, which combines proprietary data and sales insights to drive omnichannel marketing strategies. More
Location data ad tech firm Blis has launched an interactive tracker called the Consumer Confidence Pulse, to capture a 'quick snapshot' of consumer sentiment. More
In the US, product pricing, promotions, and availability data provider Datasembly has raised $10.3m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to accelerate product development and expand its sales and marketing efforts. More
Consumer product and media intelligence provider Mintel has launched a research tool called Mintel Global Consumer, through which brand owners, marketers and suppliers can understand and compare consumer behaviour, sentiment and demographics across the world. More
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has announced that the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has approved the final regulations for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), designed to enhance the privacy rights of the state's residents. More
US-based consumer insight specialist Numerator has launched what it calls a Retailer Resilience Score based on the behavior of 'Life on Pause' consumers. More
In Canada, data management platform ThinkData Works has partnered with consumer intent data provider Prosper Insights & Analytics, to provide clients with a better understanding of spending patterns, consumer happiness and impulsivity, while gaining insights into intent over time. More
London-based human insight consultancy One Minute To Midnight is opening an Americas office in New York City, to better serve its growing US client base. More
Data and insight industry association ESOMAR has launched the Insights Festival 2020, taking place online from 14th to 17th September. The event replaces the previously planned ESOMAR Congress 2020, due to take place in Toronto in October, and now postponed to 2021 because of the pandemic. More
UK-based kids, parents and family specialist The Insights People has raised £500k in investment funding, which it will use for international expansion, and to create eight new jobs at its Manchester headquarters. The firm has also appointed Stefan Lampinen as Chairman. More
Audience measurement firm Comscore has teamed up with behaviour-based data science company Consumer Orbit to launch Comscore Consumer Intelligence, offering the local market advertising sector the ability to link media consumption and shopping behaviour. More
Cincinnati, OH-based full service firm MarketVision Research has promoted Kyra Hayes and Mallory Homan to the position of Research Associate, while Stefanie Loyda and Emily Taylor become Research Directors, and Brittany Smith Senior Research Associate. More
Manchester, UK-based creative collective Inc & Co has acquired Bath-based sports performance analysis and data management (PADM) firm Insight Analysis for an undisclosed sum. More
Analytics software provider FICO (formerly the Fair Isaac Corporation) has promoted Louise Lunn to the role of Head of EMEA Analytics, leading its newly created Global Analytics Delivery organisation and overseeing the firm's teams of data scientists worldwide. More
Nielsen has reported an 8.1% drop in second quarter revenue (-5.9% on a constant currency basis) to $1.49 billion compared with $1.63bn in the prior year period; while net loss was $30m, compared with net income of $123m in Q2 2019. More
GfK has partnered with technology designer stickee to develop the 'Daily Pricing Monitor', a fully-automated data collection, monitoring and analysis suite for the telecoms sector, feeding back through an online dashboard. More
Start-up Advertima, which uses AI to customize in-store experiences, has closed a EUR 15m ($17.3m) funding round, earmarked for further development of its tracking platform. More
Oxford, UK-based consumer research agency MMR has launched a new approach called 'sensory charged video', which uses the firm's expertise to deconstruct how a category and its products play out on a sensory level, then finds the language to communicate this in a motivating way. More
US-based digital ad personalization specialist Jivox has launched a patented purchase prediction engine called Kairos, helping brands to increase the performance of their eCommerce marketing campaigns. More
Research & Results, the organiser of the annual Munich, Germany-based trade show for market research, data and insights professionals, has decided to close its whole business because of the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. More
UK-based kids, parents and family specialist The Insights People has expanded to Canada and Australia, to meet international demand for its market intelligence solutions. More
In the US, brand and marketing insights company Shapiro+Raj has appointed Cindy Tran as company President. The position has been vacant for the past two years, since the departure of Margaret Mueller, who now serves as CEO of the Executives' Club of Chicago. More
In Hong Kong, Nielsen has launched a service called the Omni Shopper Dynamic Dashboard, to help marketers understand how online and off-line purchases perform across categories, changing behavior in those categories, and how this impacts retailers. More
Global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has hired long-time Ipsos exec Karen Gombault for a newly created role, EU Managing Director, based in its Paris office. More
UK-based consumer research agency MMR and Paris, France-based research and marketing intelligence institute Repères have signed a partnership agreement, giving each access to a combined methodological toolkit and increased geographical footprint. More
Naomi Gooblar, the founder of London-based qual and quant fieldwork services firm Field Sauce, has set up a dedicated team called Field Sauce Kidz, working with young people aged from 0 to 20, as well as their parents and educators. More
UK pollster and MR company Survation has launched a new brand track product combining brand research with advanced analytics - including Multilevel Regression and Post-Stratification analytics (MRP), a technique it has used extensively to assess consumer behaviour, attitudes and voting intention. More
In the US, marketing and consumer research firm HCD Research has partnered with artificial intelligence and sensory research agency Aigora, to launch a tool designed to help clients understand the relationship between consumers and brands. More
Ipsos has posted revenue of EUR 786m for the first half of the year, down 13% from last year's EUR 903.4m. The firm says that after a close to flat performance in the first quarter, the second was heavily affected by the 'havoc' wreaked by Covid-19. More
In the US, grocery retail giant Kroger has promoted Milen Mahadevan, COO of its data analytics subsidiary 84.51°, adding the role of President. He is now responsible for 84.51°'s day-to-day leadership, management and vision. He replaces CEO Stuart Aitken. More
In the US, MarketVision Research has announced three promotions and one new hire. Nicole Haffey joins as a Research Assistant on the Qual team, while Shannon Murphy steps up to Research Director, and Megan Schohl and Lauren Yates to Research Manager. More
Customer data pioneer dunnhumby has expanded its India leadership team, adding three industry veterans: Finance Director Dipti Bhatia, Director of Media Products Sourabh Sharma and Director of Technology and Operations Sai Prakash Dilipkumar. More
Innovation insights firm Clarivate Analytics has announced the launch of a Global Business Center in Penang, Malaysia, to be led by VP Shankar Nagalingam. Two more such centres are planned, for London and Chandler, Arizona. More
Marketing tech firm Kenshoo has partnered with CPG and retail competitive intelligence service DataWeave to offer real-time aggregate data on digital shoppers. More
Cincinnati-based Directions Research has announced a number of senior promotions, including Jason Ebbing to COO, Carley Metsker and Beth Finn to SVP roles. Cindy Tullis and Tim Laake also now have expanded roles. More
In New York, food data platform Crisp has raised $12m in a Series A round of funding, for use in expanding its supply chain technology and building an open data platform connecting thousands of companies across the sector. More
US-based insight-led marketing services firm LRW Group has been renamed 'Material', bringing its ten companies into one unified offering. More
Former Kantar CEO Eric Salama has joined the Board of New York-based consumer insights platform Morning Consult, along with Karen van Bergen, former CEO of Omnicom Public Relations Group. More
In the US, health and sustainability specialist Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) has been merged into marketing and public opinion research group Research America Inc. (RAI). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
US-based consumer insight specialist Numerator has launched Canadian Insights, a platform providing on-demand access to a view of the country's consumers based on an analysis of 30,000 panelists. More
The New York Stock Exchange has begun the process of delisting multi-channel marketing solutions firm Harte Hanks after the latter firm failed to stay above required thresholds for stockholders' equity and/or market equity. The firm will not appeal the decision, and will trade on the OTCQX instead. More
Marcoms group MDC Partners has hired former Deloitte exec Julia Hammond as President of a new division launched to service larger, integrated accounts across the entire firm. More
Nielsen Sports has closed its office in Singapore, as part of its parent's recently announced measures to drive 'operational efficiencies' and optimise Nielsen's global footprint. More
Nielsen has launched an audience planning tool allowing marketers to reach their most important consumers by performing blind matches between their first-party data and Nielsen's own panel data. More
In the US, grocery retail giant The Kroger Co has moved SVP, Chief Information Officer (CIO) Yael Cosset back to its data analytics subsidiary 84.51°, where he will serve as Chief Executive Officer and SVP of Alternative Business. He will continue to lead Kroger Technology & Digital. More
Nielsen is carrying out an 'optimization plan' to drive permanent cost savings and 'operational efficiencies', which will result in the loss of around 3,500 of its c.46,000 employees. The firm also plans to exit several smaller, underperforming markets and non-core businesses in H2 2020. More
Global market reports and analysis firm Euromonitor has launched a system for tracking product claims across 40 countries and eleven industries. More
Central and Northern European customer service feedback specialist Dive has acquired Danish mystery shopping firm Servicemind. More
Boston, MA-based behavioral science and MR consultancy Protobrand has promoted Irina Zilberman to the role of company President. More
In the UK, Andrew Mitchell has returned to consumer data firm IRI as EVP of Regional Client Growth Delivery, responsible for leading and supporting the firm's commercial efforts. More
Canada-based communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has launched a Choice-based Ideation solution, rooted in behavioral science and designed to optimize brand research and development (R&D) cycles. More
In Canada, marketing analytics company StrategyBox has raised $2m in a seed round of funding, which it will use to support more than 50 additional platforms, and add radio attribution as a service. More
Australia-based strategic brand agency Maven Intelligence has closed operations, according to reports, with its founders stating they need to return their focus to their other businesses. More
Kantar has rolled out a suite of innovation and product development solutions on its Marketplace automated research platform. More
New York-based marketing tech company Zeta Global has launched a real-time analytics and insights solution called Opportunity Explorer, designed to help marketers identify, segment and act on business growth opportunities arising post-Covid. More
UK-based company WGSN has launched a forecasting platform for the food and drink industry, to help clients develop appropriate products and services. The team is led by sector specialist Kara Nielsen, who is based in the US. More
In Hong Kong, brand strategy, design and content specialist Spectra Partnership has hired former Nielsen exec Simon Chung for the newly created position of Insights Director, charged with driving its Spectra Focus consumer insights practice. More
Shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has enhanced its path-to-purchase measurement tool OmniPath, with enhanced single source data, social media listening and staged qualitative behavioral analysis, tracking the same consumers in context to influence their shopping behavior. More
In New Zealand, full-service agency Glasshouse Consulting has hired Christine O'Sullivan as General Manager of its specialist product development and sensory evaluation business Futurescape Global, acquired 18 months ago. More
Gordon Brown, the co-founder of Millward Brown, died peacefully at his home in the UK on Saturday 6th June, after a short battle with dementia. He was 76 years old. More
US-based consumer insight specialist Numerator has launched the 'Household Penetration Acceleration Score', to help brands understand the underlying shift in consumer behavior caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the rate at which households are buying their products. More
In the US, consumer insights platform Digsite has appointed Tom Hauge as Business Development Director, while Amy Elkes joins as Director of Research and Consulting Services, Andrea Johnston as Marketing Research Community Specialist, and Lauren Dorothy as Product Analyst. More
Paris-based OpinionWay Group has announced the opening of a new strategic regional hub in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to be led by Florence de Bigault, who joins the Group as MD of Sub-Saharan Africa. More
Ipsos Interactive Services' (IIS) has extended its MENA online panel with a launch in Iraq. The new panel boasts 8,000 members and is fully operational in all the state's major cities, in both Arabic and Kurdish languages. More
In the US, custom research specialist StandPoint has launched Chooseology, an alternative to traditional concept test products and purchase intent surveys which will help model the familiar online shopping experience and measure respondent behavior. More
Retail and consumer goods image recognition and analytics firm Trax has partnered with in-store data and shopper insights platform Snooper, to provide brands in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) with a new store auditing solution which combines image recognition and crowdsourcing. More
Nielsen Global Connect has launched a suite of shopper research solutions which use 'extreme' reality and gaming technology for virtual retail shelf and planogram testing, and to uncover in-store shopping behavior. More
Shopper data and insights business Nielsen Global Connect has appointed Tribune Media veteran Chandler Bigelow as its first Chief Financial Officer. More
Former dunnhumby CEO Simon Hay has been named Chief Executive Officer of retail loyalty business tcc global. More
Stockholm-based brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa has announced net sales up 3.8% (constant currency) in the first quarter to MSEK 69.4m ($US 7.4m), with EBIT loss slashed from MSEK -3.3m to just -0.3m. The company has also moved quickly to off-set possible damage from the pandemic. More
Boston, MA behavioral science-based market research consultancy Protobrand has appointed Veylinx co-founder Rainier van Rietschoten as VP, Client Services, starting today. More
US-based company Gongos has appointed former Engine SVP Analytics & Data Science Paula Sprowl as Senior Director, Research, overseeing its primary market research group. More
Consumer data firm IRI and retail and tech sector research and advisory firm Coresight Research have partnered to launch a joint, monthly retail trend report, providing insights into the future of the sector. More
London-based research platform Attest has raised $15m from an unnamed investor. This new round of funding will be used to further expand in the US, where it has hired Marc Schraer and Tamer Abouleinein. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) and Next15's data and insights group Savanta have officially launched a framework to guide businesses in building competitive advantage through market and social research. More
India and Australia-based online panel and technology provider Orchidea Research has hired Patrick Callaghan as Director, Business Development for the North America region. More
In Vietnam, Kantar has transferred David Anjoubault from Worldpanel to take up the role of CEO of its Insights division. He replaces Nitin Nishandar, who has been named Chairman of the Insights division in Vietnam and Chief Client Officer. More
The insights sector is in line for an $18.7 billion loss in value due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new report released by industry body ESOMAR and based on a survey of 2,889 professionals from 127 countries. More
Nielsen Global Connect has launched Retail Pricing Analytics, an app which use artificial intelligence modules to help retailers set up, adjust and track pricing and promotion strategies. More
Online opinion and behavioral data specialist Netquest has added new online panels in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland and Switzerland. More
Measure Protocol, a blockchain-based marketplace for person-based data, has launched a rapid insights tool, 'Measure QuickAnswers'. The solution taps the company's community of Gen Z and Millennial mobile-only app users based in the US, Canada and the UK. More
In the US, former Nielsen CEO Mitch Barns has joined the Board of consumer brand agency The Stable. More
US-based MR data and tech firm Numerator has launched an omnichannel consumer insights panel for Canada, focusing on consumer shopping and brand behaviour across fifteen retail channels - including online - for individual panelists. More
Brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa has partnered with mobile research tech firm RealityMine, to provide behavioural data technology for the former's Omnichannel Path to Purchase and Digital Pulse solutions. More
In Australia, branding consultancy Principals has appointed Mary Winter as Insights Director, working on client projects across the firm's three offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland. More
Australia's professional insights association the AMSRS has rebranded as 'The Research Society', aiming to reflect its evolution into 'a more contemporary community association... providing benefits and services to research professionals throughout their career'. More
In Munich, Germany, recently renamed customer experience and research company ISC-CX has launched a system called Covid-19 Feedback, allowing retail customers to give real-time feedback to management after purchase, pick-up or curbside delivery. More
Nielsen has announced information sharing and 'cooperation' agreements with one of its largest shareholders, hedge fund Elliott Management Corporation, which now owns a 13% stake in the group. It will also set up a Finance Committee and add IPG exec Jonathan Miller to its Board. More
Saul Ben-Zeev, co-founder of full-service agency C+R Research and of Fieldwork, Inc., and a pioneer of the focus group, died on Tuesday at the age of 93. More
Nielsen has reported a 0.3% drop in first quarter revenues to $1.56 billion, equivalent to a 1.5% rise on a constant currency basis. It also turned a net profit of $43m in Q1 2019 into a net loss of $18m a year later, although adjusted EBITDA remained positive. More
Nordic MR specialist Userneeds has partnered with mobile research tech firm RealityMine, aiming to provide a more holistic view of the digital behaviour of Nordic consumers. More
In the US big data, predictive analytics and insights provider IRI has launched the CPG Demand Index, to help manufacturers and retailers understand product demand, supply chain opportunities, and shifts in shopper behaviour. More
British-based full service insight consultancy Basis Research has opened an office in Chicago, where it has appointed brand insights and strategy specialist Katie Buckley as Managing Partner. More
Shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has launched a solution called PackFlash eCommerce, for use in testing product images presented in online shopping platforms. More
Nielsen has promoted Andrea Borelli to the role of Managing Director for Nielsen Hong Kong and Macau. More
Ipsos has posted first quarter revenue of EUR 428.7m, up 1.6% from the same period last year; but says its order book in the three weeks from March 30th has seen a significant fall. More
YouGov has reported a 16% increase in revenue to £76.9m in its half-year (HY) results for the six months to 31st January, compared with HY 2019, when revenue increased 18% to £66.5m. The firm also says it has not yet seen any 'material impact' to the business from the Covid-19 pandemic. More
In the US, shopper intelligence provider Catalina has appointed Robert 'Bob' Reich as its new Chief Financial Officer. More
In the US, chat marketing platform ManyChat has acquired eCommerce tracking firm Converlytics, a specialist in attribution analytics connecting Facebook Messenger to Shopify. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Southeast Asia-based qual and quant marketing intelligence company Divergent Insights has opened an office in Jakarta, Indonesia. More
Asia Pacific-based data-led marketing and strategy consulting group Illuminera has partnered with marketing insights professional Ashok Sethi, to launch a specialist marketing and behavior change division called 'Behave!' More
In China, third party marketing data and tech provider Miaozhen Systems has split into two units: Omni-marketing Intelligence (OMI) and Business Intelligence & Analytics (BIA). More
In the US, consumer data management tech company SRAX has launched a solution called BIGtoken Lightning Insights, which claims to return 'robust audience insights in just hours'. More
Britain's official statistics service, the ONS, is introducing new surveys and data sources reflecting 'widespread disruption to the UK and constraints on its operations'. More
DIY research software firm SurveyMonkey has launched a suite of tools called Expert Solutions, through which customers can test product and marketing concepts with a global audience. More
In the US, retail sales, marketing and services company Acosta has appointed Sharon Hart as Chief Information Officer, to further develop the firm's proprietary digital and analytic solutions. More
UK-based kids, tweens and teens specialist Kids Insights has launched in Mexico, where it will survey a total of 21,000 children each year. More
In the UK, consumer and sensory researcher MMR Group has acquired insights-driven creative agency Together, which specialises in branding, digital marketing, social media, communications and packaging design. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Global association ESOMAR is teaming up with MrWeb and its existing partner Women In Research to give data and insights professionals access to the world's largest specialist index of job opportunities, with new packages and offers also launched. More
Jane Frost, Chief Executive of Britain's MRS, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak warning of the 'immediate and potentially catastrophic impact' of the Covid-19 crisis on the industry, and asking for further help in protecting it. More
Global shopper insights and product experience consultancy PRS IN VIVO has updated its Accelerated FlashSuite (previously known as 'Accelerated Behavioral Insights'), with improvements for screening, validating and optimizing packaging designs at every stage of development. More
In the US, product intelligence specialist Amplitude has acquired predictive analytics firm ClearBrain, for an undisclosed sum. More
Daniel Wirth has been appointed as CEO of Kynetec and the Kleffmann Group, following the recent announcement that the two agricultural and animal health research specialists are merging. More
Asia Pacific-based group Illuminera has announced the acquisition of Singapore-based digital and shopper marketing boutique DASS. More
In London, the UK Statistics Authority has launched a joint Consultation with HM Treasury, aimed at addressing the 'shortcomings' of the RPI (Retail Price Index) as a measure of inflation. The CPIH measure, which includes housing costs, is held up as a better indicator. More
Silicon Valley-based computer vision and AI-powered video analytics company Deep North has closed a $25.7m Series A funding round, which it says will be used in 'digitizing the next generation of brick-and-mortar retail and shopping centers on a global level'. More
Retail and consumer goods analytics firm Trax has acquired on-demand retail services platform Survey.com, which provides full-service research solutions, survey programming, data management and analysis, and reporting services. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the UK, out-of-home (OOH) audience research body Route has launched a measurement system which offers 'spot level' audience measurement at 15-minute levels for ads shown on any digital poster or screen, in order to pinpoint who is exposed to ads and for how long. More
Paris, France-based MR firm OpinionWay has expanded to Poland, opening offices in Krakow and Warsaw. More
In the US, focus group facilities and recruiting services company L&E Research has expanded with the acquisition of the midtown Manhattan office of Consumer Center. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has appointed Sadia Corey as a Director on the Americas commercial team, based in Atlanta; and Andrew Trudeau as a Senior Consultant in the Account Management team, based at Savanta's New York City Americas headquarters. More
In the US, automated ad and innovation testing platform Zappi has launched a solution called Early Concept, designed to rapidly determine the 'opportunity profile' of different concepts - breakthrough, refresh or emergent for future development. More
Tech-enabled researcher Maru Group has updated its Implicit Association Testing (IAT) tool, with the addition of a drag and drop interface which it claims eliminates bias and improves the quality of data. More
Nielsen Holdings plc has appointed Sean Cohan as Chief Growth Officer and President, International; and promoted Peter Bradbury to Chief Commercial Officer, U.S. and Karthik Rao to COO of its Media division. More
Brand sales and marketing agency C.A. Fortune has appointed Jessica Schmidt as Vice President of its Business Intelligence division, C.A. Insights. More
Ipsos has reported a 14.5% increase in full-year revenue to slightly more than EUR 2 billion; with organic, constant currency growth of 3.8%, the firm's best annual performance since 2011. More
Nielsen Holdings has announced 2019 revenues of $6.498bn, equivalent to a 1.7% rise at constant currency, although a fall of 0.3% as reported. Q4 revenues were $1.69bn, up 2.0% on a reported basis and 2.7% in constant currency terms. More
Kantar has launched three sales and marketing tools, designed to offer South East Asia-based CPG companies a data-driven overview of the consumer journey. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based brand tracking and consumer science specialist Nepa has promoted Ann-Christine Fick to the position of Chief Financial Officer, while Michael Wallin joins in the newly created role of Head of Investor Relations. More
AsiaPac-headquartered retail and consumer goods image recognition and analytics firm Trax has acquired Paris, France-based AI-driven, in-store, shelf monitoring solution Qopius for an undisclosed sum. More
America's largest grocery retailer Kroger has partnered with Microsoft to jointly market a solution designed to help retailers use customer insights to create higher levels of personalization, while enhancing store staff productivity. More
In Chicago, marketing and business communications specialist RRD has launched a solution called In-Store Insights, which combines the firm's expertise in shopper experience research, data science and analytics, in-store strategy, and retail activations. More
In New York, advanced analytics platform Signals Analytics has expanded its coverage to provide a 'holistic view' of the food and beverage sectors, enabling users to uncover trends and predictive insights. More
Adam Crozier, former CEO of broadcaster ITV, the Football Association and Royal Mail, has been named Non-Executive Chairman of Kantar. More
In the US, consumer understanding specialist Curion has appointed former Leo Burnett Global CFO Greg Silich as Chief Operating Officer. More
Dentsu Aegis-owned performance marketing agency Merkle has launched a Promotion and Loyalty Solutions division, to be led by Peter DeNunzio as Global Head of Loyalty. More
Following its acquisition of WPP AUNZ's Data Investment Management (DIM) division, Kantar has announced a number of steps which it says will help drive growth for its clients in Australia, including the retirement of the Colmar Brunton brand in the country. More
Colorado-based Egg Strategy is moving its corporate headquarters within the state, from Boulder to Denver - where more than 40 percent of its nearly 70 employees live. More
Symphony RetailAI, which provides artificial intelligence-enabled solutions for FMCG retailers and CPG manufacturers, has appointed Chris Koziol as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Pallab Chatterjee, who has retired. More
P-O Westerlund has been named CEO of Sweden-based brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa AB, replacing Fredrik Östgren who leaves the company with immediate effect. More
One-year-old immersive research firm Further&Further has added a fourth office in Chicago, to existing locations in Montreal, New York and London. Eve Ejsmont and Brian Flannery join the new office as Directors while Matthew Pemberton joins the Montreal office as a Film Director. More
In the US, shopper targeting firm Valassis has partnered with Kantar to launch a new report called 'The Future of How People Shop', which promises an understanding of the behavior and attitudes of consumers and the catalysts driving their engagement. More
In Newcastle-upon-Tyne, full-service agency Explain Market Research has undergone a management buyout, with founder David Shiel selling his controlling 75% stake. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Dutch full service agency DVJ Insights has opened an office in Hamburg, and appointed GfK veterans Erk Maassen and Stephan Knäble as Managing Partners, to lead and develop it. More
Qual research, innovation and strategy agency The Sound has appointed Elizabeth Lockwood, a former Head of Europe for Ipsos Strategy3, to lead its UK office. She is tasked with expanding the firm's offer into new markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. More
Matt Michaud has rejoined global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO as Senior Vice President, Head of Behavioral Qualitative, based in London as part of the Innovation Team. More
Tech and consumer specialist Breaking Blue Research is formally joining sister agency Cello Health Insight, in a move which the firms say will add specialist expertise to strengthen the overall business insights and analytics offer. More
Nielsen has appointed David Rawlinson as Chief Executive Officer of its Global Connect business, while Linda Zukauckas will take up the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Global Media business. Both will join on February 3rd. More
Snacks company pladis has brought in former PepsiCo Asia Pacific Insights & Analytics Lead Geoff Painter as Chief Insights Officer, starting today. More
Shopper intelligence specialist Catalina is partnering with consumer analytics platform and promotion network Koupon, to provide convenience store (C-store) retailers and CPGs with a more 'holistic' understanding of cross-channel consumer purchase behavior. More
Tesco-owned customer data firm dunnhumby is moving its customer insights products across to Microsoft's cloud platform Azure, in order to give more retailers and suppliers instant access to shopper and business insights. More
In the UK, Cambridge Market Research (CMR) has hired former Future Thinking UK MD Adele Gritten as its first Chief Executive Officer. More
Food and drink sector research and support organisation Campden BRI has appointed Peter Headridge as COO, and Barbara Lunnon as Associate Director, Consulting (Science). More
This is 2019's last edition of Daily Research News. We wish a very Merry Christmas to all those celebrating it, and a Happy New Year and a great holiday to all readers, clients, contributors, partners and friends around the world. DRNO resumes in the first week of 2020. More
Venture capital backed sports marketing firm Bruin Sports Capital has agreed to acquire the majority of consumer data analytics, sports marketing and technology practice Two Circles from WPP. Terms were not disclosed. More
Retail data firm The NPD Group has appointed Darren Person as Global Chief Information Officer, and Robert Taylor as SVP, Enterprise Systems. More
Wealth information and insight business Wealth-X has expanded its global database with the addition of 130,000 wealthy individuals in Europe, increasing coverage in the region by 350%. More
In New York, targeting platform WeAre8 has launched a media metric called 'Cost per Relationship', reflecting the price a brand has to pay to gain an opt-in relationship with a target consumer. More
2001, like 1984, was a year for which fiction had given us very specific expectations, and while disappointingly little coasted through the heavens to the strains of the 'Blue Danube', some MR industry giants certainly soared. Here's our review of the year on DRNO. More
In the US, data aggregator M1 Data & Analytics has launched a solution called LocationIQ, to enable marketers to identify consumers who visit specific locations while gathering full contact and demographic information from those individuals. More
Kantar Chief Executive Eric Salama has decided to step down from his role at some point in 2020, after which he will serve as a non-executive Director and Consultant at the company. Kantar has already begun the process of recruiting a successor. More
Kantar and consumer data giant IRI have launched a solution to help CPG clients measure and optimize marketing programs against the drivers of long-term brand health and short-term sales. More
WPP says it has completed the sale of 60% of Kantar to Bain Capital Private Equity, 'with respect to approximately 90% of the Kantar business', with the proceeds received; and says it will complete the remainder in the first half of 2020. More
US professional body The Insights Association has named former Dynata EVP Melanie Courtright as its Chief Executive Officer, beginning January 1st and succeeding David Almy. More
Cincinnati, OH-based MarketVision Research has announced five appointments: Brennan Held and Morgan Murray join as Research Associates, and Andrew Tamplin as an RM in Field Services; while Anthony Campagna and Karen Shull are promoted. More
In the UK, kids, parents and family specialist The Insights People has added five to its research and technical teams: Sarah Riding as Trend & Research Director; Hannah Carley as RM; Bethany Bleathman as an RE; Anne Kelly as Account Director; and Mark Armstrong as Principal Developer. More
Indonesia-based consumer insights start-up Populix has raised $1m in a round of seed funding, which it will use to develop new product features and hire new employees. The firm is also planning to cover more countries in the Southeast Asia region. More
In the first of 21 articles to celebrate our anniversary, we look at the events of a year in the life of the MR industry, as seen through articles in Daily Research News. Quanties among you will work out that the last article will involve a bit of speculation, but we start with a look way back, at the Millennium year. More
Canadian consumer and audience insights company Vividata has announced a partnership with consumer segmentation specialist Manifold Data Mining, applying the latter's Polaris Intelligence platform to the former's large-scale, established research studies. More
Today it's exactly 21 years since MrWeb was officially launched - a traditional coming-of-age here in the UK. In Internet terms, 21 is ancient really, and we'll do a bit of looking backward over the next few weeks, but we also have major plans for the coming year. Details here - and your feedback wanted! More
In New York, consumer behavior tracking specialist wappier has raised $4m in a seed round of funding, which it will use to continue building and growing its AI-powered revenue management and data visualization platform; and to strengthen its team in the US and Europe. More
Animal health and agriculture researcher Kynetec and agricultural MR specialist the Kleffmann Group have completed a transaction to merge. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In New York, analytical intelligence and consumer transaction specialist 1010data has launched two new products to help businesses better understand the consumer purchase journey, while expanding its existing Comparison Shopping report. More
In the US, shopping and rewards platform Honey Science Corporation is to be acquired by PayPal for $4 billion. The deal will enable PayPal's network of 24 million merchants to offer targeted and more personalized promotions to consumers. More
US location data company Factual has extended its Audience product with the addition of two new solutions, which use machine-learned predictive insights and visitation pattern analysis to help build segments based on real-world consumer behavior. More
Data firm Acxiom has launched a dual-segmentation system called Personicx Prime, which provides individual consumer insights for different members of a household. In addition, the company has rolled out two location-based services: Geospatial Audience Insights and Acxiom Market Signals. More
Data collection company Norstat has a new owner, investment firm Triton having completed its acquisition today from former owners Foinco and Verdane. More
In New York, Nielsen Global Connect has hired IBM exec Jacqueline Woods as Chief Marketing Officer, starting on December 1st. More
US-based personalized search, content and recommendations specialist RichRelevance has announced plans to consolidate its business with Indian retail analytics solutions provider Manthan Systems. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, shopper understanding company PreciseTarget has hired three new execs for its senior leadership team: Mitch Paletz as SVP Channel Partnerships; Andrew McCasker as Chief Technology Officer; and Brian Graziano as VP Marketing. More
In the US, retail automation solutions provider Focal Systems has received an undisclosed amount of investment, which it will use to drive further development of its AI-based on-shelf demand insights solutions. More
In New York, long-time GfK exec David Albert has been named Managing Director of research and data services company ENGINE Insights. The business is part of full-service media and marketing company ENGINE, which was previously the parent of ORC. More
In the US, CPG industry-focused sales and marketing agency Acosta has promoted long-time company exec Colin Stewart to the role of Executive Vice President, Business Intelligence. More
Nielsen has announced a major expansion of its relationship with US-based food giant General Mills Inc. More
MRI-Simmons has partnered with cultural profiling firm EthniFacts to launch Cultural Suite, a tool for targeting different cultural groups. More
In the UK, online research supplier Panelbase has hired research veteran Johnny Caldwell in the newly created role of Innovation Consultant. He is based in London More
In Belgium, former Haystack execs Wim Hamaekers and Jasper Scheir have launched an insights consultancy called One Inch Whale, which promises to help people and brands to be 'relevant and sustainable'. More
Global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has appointed Lauren Davitt as Vice President, leading the expansion of its Luxury Practice in the US from the company's offices in New York. More
The Indian MR industry is getting its 'first ever' awards for excellence, the MRSI Golden Key Awards, courtesy of trade association The Market Research Society of India. More
LA-based research agency LRW Group has acquired digital marketing and innovation agency T3, based in Austin, TX and with more than 200 employees. More
Nielsen has completed its strategic review, and announced plans to spin off its Global Connect business (similar, but not identical to the former 'Buy' segment), creating two independent publicly traded companies. The company also posted a respectable 2.4% constant currency revenue rise for Q3. More
Leeds and London-based agency Trinity McQueen has acquired product testing and healthcare specialist Allto Market Research (previously known as McCallum Layton). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
US-based consumer insights and strategy consultancy db5 has been acquired by Australian marketing and communications group Bastion Collective, for an undisclosed sum. More
In California, former JWT Intelligence director Lucie Greene has launched a futures, research and brand strategy consultancy called Light Years. More
In London, intelligence-led media and events business TheIndustry.fashion has launched a brand and retail tracker called The Index, which promises metrics and insights into the psyche of today's consumer. More
Shopper intelligence specialist Catalina has hired Wayne Powers as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Jerry Sokol, who will continue as a Strategic Advisor during the transition period. More
London-based boutique insights agency 2CV has promoted Sabine Cronick - previously Head of Quant - to Managing Director, UK; and Jennifer Axen, previously Head of Qual, to MD North America. More
Ipsos has reported organic growth of 3% in the third quarter of the year. Reported revenue rose fully 16.7% to EUR 499.4m, driven by the acquisition of units of GfK since last year, and to a lesser extent by that of Synthesio and by currency effects. More
In a trading update for the third quarter, WPP has reported its first like-for-like (LFL) revenue increase of the year - with insight division Kantar sharing in the improvement. Group reported revenue rose 1.9% LFL to £3.29bn. More
TV audience measurement body BARC India has announced that founding CEO Partho Dasgupta is leaving the position, and will be replaced by Sunil Lulla. More
Harris Interactive has launch two new products, hi brands Express and ad post-test Express, which it says deliver 'faster, more cost-effective brand and communications insights' for FMCG, financial services, technology, media and entertainment sectors. More
In the US, enterprise analytics specialist ThoughtSpot has partnered with Nielsen to launch a search and artificial intelligence-driven platform called Retail Insights, designed to help organizations understand and respond to changing consumer expectations. More
Cultural insights and strategy consultancy Crowd DNA has recruited RDSi director David Power to manage its quant and analytics offer, which is being rebranded as 'Crowd Numbers'. Power will join the firm in November. More
In the US, shopper targeting firm Valassis has promoted Cali Tran to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, replacing CEO Dan Singleton who will move into a senior advisory role for parent company Harland Clarke Holdings. More
In the US, foodservice research and trend insights firm Technomic has begun using AI, machine learning and language processing to create predictive tools identifying menu and other industry trends. More
Retail personalization specialist Kibo is to acquire software provider Monetate for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, full-service ad and brand research specialist Phoenix Marketing International (Phoenix MI) has appointed long-time Ipsos exec Caryn Brouwer as Senior Vice President of Client Services, based in its NYC office. More
Full service agency Opinium Research has rolled out the results of the second '100 Most Connected UK Brands' survey, whilst launching the service in the US. More
In India, Kantar and artificial intelligence platform Frrole have partnered to launch a service called 'TGI Social+', which combines consumer profiles from Kantar's consumer survey TGI with social media analytics to provide a 'holistic' understanding of online consumers. More
US-based insight firm LRW Group has acquired full-service agency Salt Branding, which helps clients make brands more focused and relevant to the needs of both business and consumers. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
British retailer M&S has hired former GroupM exec Mehdi Hosseini for a newly created role, Head of Data Science, including responsibility for recruiting for up to twenty new roles in the near future. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has announced that Kristy Richards and Matt Pearce will lead its Melbourne business. More
Canada-based communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has launched a semiotics tool called Brand Emotion, which analyzes large numbers of images and promises to help clients understand what emotions their brand evokes for consumers. More
Shopper intelligence and personalization firm Catalina Marketing Japan has named Brett Wayn President and Chief Executive Officer, while Sean Chu has been hired as Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer, reporting to him. More
Nielsen Sports has launched an online platform to provide a view of fans' interests, media consumption, brand attitudes and purchasing habits from around the world. More
Panel provider Borderless Access has appointed former Dynata exec Max Czycholl as Vice President - Europe. He is based in Hamburg, Germany. More
Insights partnership RealityCheck Consulting has launched HXi, a new service for CX and decision journey mapping More
Washington, DC-based research and consulting firm Luntz Global Partners has rebranded as Storyline Strategies, as it repositions itself with a wider offer and a focus on innovative methods. More
US programmatic ad tech and footfall insights provider Mobiquity Technologies has announced a successful recapitalization, cleared the way for a Nasdaq application, and extended the contracts of two key execs from recently acquired Advangelists, who it says will play a key role in its future. More
Brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa AB has appointed Erik Enecker as MD of its US subsidiary, starting this Friday and taking over from Ken Peterson, who leaves the company. More
UK-based 'human understanding agency' Walnut Unlimited has appointed Becky Miles as a Research Director in its retail team. More
New Jersey-based MR and applied consumer neuroscience company HCD Research has been awarded a patent for a new approach to mapping mood, product marketability and promotion, through physiological measures. More
US-based consumer psychology expert Strategic Vision is opening its first office in India, located in Hyderabad and led by Ravindra 'Ravi' Kondagunta, in partnership with his company Traction Labs. More
Consumer data giant IRI and location intelligence firm PlaceIQ have further extended their partnership, integrating the latter anonymous foot traffic data in the former's Liquid Data loyalty card and point-of-sale analysis platform. More
Group M agency Wavemaker Australia has promoted Cat Wolkers to the role of National Head of Research and Insight. More
Customer data pioneer dunnhumby has launched an in-house tech accelerator called dunnhumby Labs (dh Labs), to develop its product offerings in the global retail marketplace. The new business unit will be led by Kyle Fugere, who also heads dunnhumby ventures. More
Consumer insights platform DISQO has appointed former MarketShare and Neustar executive Jean-Philippe Durrios as CFO and COO, based in its Los Angeles headquarters and charged with leading its plans for rapid growth. More
On 29th November 1998 MrWeb - publisher of DRNO - officially launched with the appearance of its first job ad. To celebrate our twenty-first birthday we're publishing special supplements on five major growth areas in the sector, beginning this month with online communities. More
UK-based brand research agency The Nursery has merged with recently acquired Arkenford, and moved to refurbished offices in Rathbone Place, London W1. More
London-based Opinium has hired Adrian McCallum, previously a Senior Director at Kantar Millward Brown, in the role of Research Director. More
Escalent (formerly Market Strategies International-Morpace) has announced that Chief Information Officer Sharna Morelli has decided to retire, while John Sivak has been promoted to Senior Vice President, leading the firm's IT division from its Livonia, MI headquarters. More
In the US, retail industry information and intelligence resource EnsembleIQ has promoted Jennifer Litterick to the role of Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of former Kantar exec David Shanker, who had held the role since February last year. More
Mobile engagement platform Gimbal has launched a location and foot traffic analytics platform called 'Trends', to provide a view of consumers' physical-world behavior over time. More
The insight sector around the world including traditional and new areas turned over around $80bn in 2018, according to ESOMAR's annual Global MR report - up from $76bn in 2017. New areas such as data analytics accounted for most but not all of the growth, rising around 10% year-on-year. More
In the US, consumer, shopper and retail marketing intelligence provider IRI has enhanced its AllScan Convenience Store Tracking service, with the addition of insight from seventeen of the top twenty convenience store chains. More
In New York, AI-powered consumer intelligence platform SightX has appointed long-time FocusVision / Decipher exec Mark Levy as Vice President of Business Development. More
Dan Hess, former Comscore Chief Product Officer, has joined retail data specialist The NPD Group to lead its global product development and management. More
In the US, sensory and consumer product research specialist Curion says it has appointed thirty-five new employees this year, supporting rapid growth and the launch of three new services. More
Australian insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 has expanded its teams in Sydney and Melbourne over the past six months, with the appointment of fourteen new members of staff. More
In London, Neil Frackiewicz has been promoted to Head of Retail UK, effective from 1st September. He takes over from Michael McLaughlin, who moves up to Head of Retail Europe. More
Melvin Ng has re-joined global shopper agency PRS IN VIVO, as Asia Senior Director of Market Development, based in Shanghai. More
US firms LoopMe and Numerator have partnered to offer 'traditional' retailers ad campaign attribution and in-flight optimisation, using off-line purchase data. More
In the US, data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions Ltd has opened its newest testing center, in Staten Island, New York. More
Next15's data and insights group Savanta has hired five new US employees while announcing a move to a larger office in New York City. More
GfK and Segment of One (SO1) have jointly developed an artificial intelligence-based solution called Attribution+, to enable grocery and drugstore retailers to gain intelligence on shoppers. More
In the US, business research, news, trade shows, and networking events provider Winsight has hired former Gartner exec Kurt Reisenberg for its newly created role of President, while Alanna Young has been promoted to President of its Technomic research business. More
'Core experience' analysis specialist Qualtrics has added new capabilities to its purchase decision analysis solution Conjoint XM. More
In Africa, marketing services network WPP ScanGroup is to meet an obligation to sell two of its subsidiaries, following parent company WPP's decision to sell 60% of Kantar to private equity firm Bain Capital. More
Nielsen has reported a 1.2% drop in second quarter revenues to $1.63bn - although excluding currency effects it would have risen by the same amount. Adjusted EBITDA increased 0.4% to $470m - a rise of 2% at constant currency. More
UK-based Future Thinking has appointed Steven Forrest as Group CFO. He replaces Jason Stark, who left the company last month after less than a year in the role. More
Digital media analytics specialist Quotient has launched a solution giving consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands consumer purchase history and intent data, from which to build targetable shopper segments for use in digital advertising. More
Nielsen has entered a partnership with digital media analytics specialist Quotient Technology, whose purchase intelligence will be integrated into Nielsen's own audience and performance measurement solutions, creating a new industry omni-channel data set. More
Ipsos has launched an 'Innovation Testing' service, founded on behavioural science and promising to help users 'successfully compete in today's omnichannel world'. More
Maru/Matchbox has hired former Hall & Partners Group Strategy Director Abigail Aufgang as VP, Innovations & Solutions, based in New York. More
Los Angeles-based consumer insights business MarketCast Group has appointed long-time media and entertainment exec John Batter as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Henry Shapiro who has moved into the position of Chairman. More
Ipsos has generated revenue of EUR 903.4m in the first half of 2019, up 14.9% compared with the first six months of 2018. Organic growth for the half year was 3.0%. More
Australian retail chain Woolworths has officially launched a standalone media business, Cartology, which will run a network of digital screens across supermarkets nationwide, and offer performance tracking modelling to assess campaign effectiveness. More
IRI has appointed Mike Eklund as CFO and Evan Swidler as Chief Human Resources Officer, with both replacing interim leaders. More
Retail data firm IRI has appointed Carrie Shea as Managing Partner of Growth Consulting for its Strategic Analytics division. More
Florida-based shopper intelligence and personalized digital firm Catalina Marketing has partnered with LiveRamp to develop new audience segments and measurement offerings for US CPG marketers, for launch this quarter. More
In Sydney, Nielsen has announced a number of enhancements to its Homescan consumer panel, which measures purchases across the various channels making up Australia's grocery sector. More
London-based agency The Big Picture (TBP) has appointed longtime Basis Research Director Laura Pereira as Head of Quant, with a focus on innovative techniques in design research. More
Indonesia-based research and neuroscience start-up Neurosensum has followed up a recent $1.8m funding win with the launch of a new research tool, SurveySensum, and says it aims to double its size to around 90 employees by the end of the year. More
WPP has agreed to sell 60% of its data, research, consulting and analytics business Kantar to private equity firm Bain Capital, in a deal which values the whole of Kantar at around £3.2bn ($4.0bn). More
In London, boutique insights agency 2CV has appointed former Crowd DNA exec Antonia Cheese as Global Business Development Director. More
WPP-owned Kantar has launched a number of services to help marketers directly integrate their own datasets with data from its TGI consumer survey, to give enhanced audience profiling for campaign planning and digital media activation. More
Nielsen has launched the 'Nielsen Podcast Listener Buying Power Service', enabling clients to profile shows using program titles collected from subscribers, in order to connect specific types of listeners with particular advertisers and specific program-level insights. More
In the US, Emeryville, California-based research consultancy Greenberg Strategy has been acquired by the Lieberman Research Worldwide Group (LRW). Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Nielsen and retail and consumer goods image recognition and analytics firm Trax have launched three new offerings, designed to provide US brands with access to both episodic and continuous views of shelf conditions. More
Consumer data giant IRI has launched an automated 'Always-on Marketing Mix Effectiveness Platform', to provide FMCG manufacturers with continuous access to market data, analysis and insights. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has launched a tool called Optimize Reach, which uses TURF analysis to understand the combined reach of text-based stimuli, eliminating the need to manually re-run possible scenarios. More
Amsterdam-headquartered consumer insights solutions provider Veylinx has opened its first US office in Brooklyn, New York, where it has appointed former Pollfish exec Nihad Zahri as US Business Development Director. More
Consumer data giant IRI has launched an automated, on-demand platform called the Media Profilers Application, to help FMCG brands, their media agencies and media owners isolate and measure the effects of their media campaigns in the market. More
Global consumer agency InSites Consulting has acquired UK-based insight community specialist Join the Dots, for an undisclosed sum. More
WPP has confirmed this evening it is now in exclusive talks with private equity firm Bain Capital, over the sale of a majority stake in Kantar. More
In the US, automated consumer insights platform Zappi has appointed Zontziry 'Z' Johnson as Vice President of Customer Transformation. More
Retail and consumer goods image recognition and analytics firm Trax has acquired US shopping rewards app Shopkick for $200m. The deal combines Trax's shelf and shopper data with Shopkick's data, which tracks how shoppers enter stores and how they can be guided to certain products. More
Social media monitoring firm Brandwatch claims to have launched a new category called 'Digital Consumer Intelligence', which combines social media, (other) digital, survey and first-party data and applies artificial intelligence and data science techniques to generate new customer insights. More
In London, the management team at agribusiness pricing, media, data and intelligence company AgriBriefing has bought the company for an undisclosed sum. More
Brand tracking and consumer science firm Nepa has named Esha Nagar Managing Director of Sales for India, based in Mumbai and overseeing its research and client development efforts across a range of vertical industries. More
In the US, video ad effectiveness measurement specialist Ace Metrix has launched an approach which quantifies the level of 'cultural sensitivity' portrayed in advertising. More
Global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has launched a suite of research services called Accelerated Behavioral Insights, which combines technology, category experience and human expertise to guide NPD, shopper and packaging development. More
US-based Numerator has appointed Eric Belcher as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Dennis Moore who becomes President, Panel Solutions. The firm was formed last year through the merger of omnichannel market intelligence firm Market Track and its consumer panel provider InfoScout. More
Data-driven performance marketing agency Merkle has launched its Merkle Wallet transaction data tool in the UK, allowing clients to understand online and off-line consumer spending patterns for both their own brand and key competitors. More
Mobile research firms RealityMine and MFour have partnered to launch a solution called 'Connected Consumer Data', providing clients with a single-source continuous data set that combines observed digital and location behavior with validated surveys. More
Leuven, Belgium-based multisensory research firm Haystack International has announced the acquisition of shopper intelligence specialist Shopting, for an undisclosed sum. More
Tesco-owned customer data science company dunnhumby has appointed Flávia Villani as Head of its Brazil operations. More
In New York, programmatic ad tech provider Mobiquity Technologies has launched a measurement tool called AdTribute, to help marketers identify in-store, bricks-and-mortar footfall as a result of exposure to digital advertising. More
Global market reports and analysis firm Euromonitor International has launched an office in Dusseldorf, servicing the DACH region - Germany, Austria and Switzerland. More
New York-based consumer insights specialist MRI-Simmons has announced a partnership with New Jersey social media metrics and off-line word-of-mouth specialist Engagement Labs, helping marketers to activate their off-line brand advocates and influencers and 'seed' new conversations. More
Nielsen has added Nielsen Scarborough USA advanced audience segments to the national version of its cross-media planning solution Nielsen Media Impact (NMI), to help marketers and media companies connect with their best consumers and maximize their cross-media buys. More
Comscore has rolled out its Brand Survey Lift ad impact evaluation solution to six international markets - Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Spain and the UK. More
In the US, global strategy and consumer insights company db5 has announced the return of Chris Hubble as Chief Executive Officer, after a three year stint developing and managing DIY research platform PopResearch (Pop). More
Shopper intelligence specialist Catalina Marketing has partnered with TV data provider Samba TV, to integrate shopper behavioral data and video viewing insights at 'massive scale', encompassing tens of millions of households and billions of data points. More
In Australia, Kantar has promoted Leigh Mander and Jacqui Brandt to MD roles, leading the Sydney and Melbourne offices respectively. Meanwhile James Brown moves into the newly created position of National Head of Shopper. More
Consumer data giant IRI and product data specialist Label Insight are joining forces, to provide CPG manufacturers and retailers with more detailed insight into product performance based on nutrition and ingredient label data. More
Retail data specialist The NPD Group has appointed Hal Danziger as Head of Next Gen Platforms, working on the design and development of a new data processing and delivery platform which will support new data sets and analytics. More
In the US, enterprise software solutions firm PDI has acquired CStorePro Technologies, whose mobile software provides single-store operators with a view of their sales, pricing and promotional data in real-time dashboards. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen's innovation division BASES has launched a new service called Retail Ready, to help packaged goods manufacturers of all sizes compete for shelf space for their new products. More
In the UK, Tesco-owned customer data science company dunnhumby has partnered with the publication Retail Week to launch a study of what customers want from their food shopping experiences. More
Mobile research tech firm RealityMine has rolled out a service called RealLife Data Feeds, offering measurement for Walmart's US web site and app, alongside more extensive Amazon shopper data. More
US firm TABS Analytics has acquired virtual shopper marketing research and analytics business Decision Insight. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, Market Strategies International-Morpace has rebranded as 'Escalent'. The new name comes from the word 'escalate', which the firm says reflects its mission to help organizations accelerate, develop and grow. More
Troubled direct marketing and targeting firm Harte Hanks has announced that CEO Bant Breen has resigned from his role, to 'focus on other interests and professional pursuits'. President and COO Andrew Harrison will now take the title of Principal Executive Officer. More
British-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has expanded its US team with the appointment of Natasha Trever as Research Manager, while Emma Kirk is relocating from the UK to take up the newly created position of Associate Director. The firm has also hired two new staff in the UK. More
In the US, consumer data specialist 84.51º is to relocate its Chicago office in preparation for an increase in headcount from 86 to 250 associates within the next five years. More
In the US, full-service ad and brand research specialist Phoenix Marketing International has appointed long-time Nielsen exec Michele Orlick as SVP, Networks & Media. She will be based in the firm's recently opened NYC office. More
Consumer data giant IRI has promoted Paul Hinds to the role of Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region, based in the firm's Sydney, Australia office. More
In the UK, full-service agency ABA Research has been renamed 'Kokoro', the Japanese word for heart. The firm has also hired former Chime CIE Board Director Caroline Bates as Insight Consultancy Director in its leadership team. More
Australia-based insight and strategy consultancy The Leading Edge has closed its London office, citing 'Brexit uncertainty-related issues' which it says have made clients reluctant to commit to budgets. The firm will now run most client accounts from its Sydney headquarters. More
Nielsen has reported a 2.9% fall in first quarter revenue (+0.4% on constant currency terms), to $1.6bn, with net income down 40% to $43m from $72m a year ago, but adjusted EBITDA up slightly (+0.5%) at $415m. More
In the US, Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) has appointed Nielsen's former SVP, Client Solutions Linda Dupree as Chief Executive Officer. She replaces Matt O'Grady, who has returned to Nielsen as MD, International Media, based in London. More
Research and analytics firm M Science has launched TRAFFIC, a solution offering in-depth analysis of footfall trends, via an exclusive partnership with location intelligence platform Placer.ai. More
Ipsos has reported organic growth of 2.4% for the first quarter of 2019, which coupled with acquisitions including Synthesio and parts of GfK drove reported revenue up an impressive 15.0% to EUR 422.1m. More
Automated consumer insights platform Zappi has opened a new office in Hamburg, Germany to support clients across Central Europe. More
In the UK, location planning specialist CACI has teamed up with behavioural measurement data provider Huq Industries to add new on-demand geo-behavioural insight capabilities to ifs offer. More
Consumer data giant IRI has launched a tool called the In-Flight Measurement Optimization solution, giving CPG manufacturers and retailers real-time, purchase-based insights into ongoing digital marketing campaign performance. More
In the US, Market Strategies International-Morpace Co-CEO Duncan Lawrence has moved to the role of Strategic Advisor, to focus on developing new products and solutions for clients in the automotive sector. Melissa Sauter, who shared the Co-CEO title, has been named Chief Executive Officer. More
London-based YouGov has expanded its Global Partnerships Programme with the addition of new members in Russia, Poland, Pakistan and Egypt. Additional partners are in development across the EMEA and APAC regions. More
In the US, mobile research specialist MFour has launched a tool called ExperienceCheck, to help retail and restaurant brands understand what needs to be improved or optimized - from product placement to staff performance, store ambiance and checkout experience. More
In the US, retail giant Walmart is to acquire the technology and assets of ad targeting specialist Polymorph Labs through its Walmart Media Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Harris Interactive has expanded its New Product Development (NPD) Express suite of solutions with the addition of a tool called 'Price Express', through which companies can apply consumer insights to determine costing strategies for their products and services. More
London-based System1 Group plc has released a trading update for the 12 months ending 31st March 2019, showing a 1% annual decline in its key gross profit measure, to £22m, but a much improved second half performance (up 4%). More
In the US, retail data specialist NPD has launched a tool to help retailers understand where they have permission to price items differently from the rest of the market. More
Global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has appointed former long-time Kantar exec Ian Elmer as United States Managing Director. He will be based in the firm's headquarters in Teaneck, New Jersey, reporting to CEO Alex Hunt, and leading the US Client Development and Qualitative teams. More
Retail computer vision solutions firm Trax and consumer data giant IRI have partnered, to provide consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers with additional insights into in-store execution and analytics. More
US-headquartered real-time consumer behavior specialist First Insight has opened offices in London, UK and Chennai, India. The firm has also added twelve new currencies and ten new languages to its Customer-Centric Merchandising platform. More
In the US, Ipsos has acquired GfK's probability-based online panel, for an undisclosed sum, and added it to the Ipsos Public Affairs division. More
UK-based video intelligence platform LivingLens has released a 'blurring' option, developed to overcome a number of privacy and permission issues, such as when an end brand can't be revealed during the fieldwork phase of a project. More
Kantar has partnered with eCommerce performance analytics firm Profitero to create a suite of services to help clients manage their eCommerce and omnichannel investments. More
Ipsos has launched Simstore, a suite of automated virtual shopper and packaging solutions to help clients understand how shoppers make decisions, improve navigation and optimize retail conditions and package designs. More
Panel provider Borderless Access has appointed Horia Hateg-Codrut as Client Servicing Manager for Germany/Eastern Europe, while Bev Tigar joins as Client Development Lead for South Africa. More
machineVantage, the company launched in 2016 by NeuroFocus founder A.K. Pradeep to develop AI and machine learning-based solutions across business operations, has announced ten new products focused on innovation in marketing and new product development. More
Animal health and agriculture researcher Kynetec has acquired Neil Clark & Associates, an Australian provider of agribusiness data and business intelligence. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Nielsen CEO David Kenny has signed the LEAD (Leading Executives Advancing Diversity) Network CEO Pledge, committing the company to increasing the number of women in senior leadership roles globally. More
In the US, youth and family research specialist Smarty Pants has hired former Forrester Research exec Blake Morin as 'Insights Guru', responsible for all stages of custom quant and qual research for key media, food and beverage, and toy and game clients. More
In China, Nielsen and eCommerce giant JD have signed a data-sharing agreement, and launched a big data product called Online Pricing Optimizer (OPO), to help brands evaluate their pricing on the JD platform. More
US digital advertising and analytics company Adlucent has promoted Ashwani Dhar to CEO, replacing founder Michael Griffin, who moves to become SVP of Acquisitions and Data Strategy at parent company Advantage Solutions. More
In Canada, communities specialist Maru/Matchbox has launched a solution called Creative Insights, combining measurement of implicit and explicit advertising response with benchmarks, for a complete picture of ad impact. More
GfK has appointed long-time Procter & Gamble insights exec Richard Boyko as Country Lead for Consumer Insights and Marketing Effectiveness in Belgium. More
In the US, mobile research specialist MFour has launched a tool called ProductCheck, to provide validated in-store insights into product placement, packaging and preferences. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI and natural, organic, and specialty products insight provider SPINS have extended their partnership to include further access to label and ingredient insights, enabling a deeper understanding of shopper behavior in the wellness space, both in store and online. More
Stockholm-based affluent fieldwork specialist Altiant has launched, GLAM - the Global Luxury and Asset Management monitor, as well as an open interactive platform hosting ranges of data points from its in-house HNW panel LuxuryOpinions. More
Kantar is dispensing with brands including TNS, Millward Brown, Lightspeed, Worldpanel and IMRB, and from 2nd April will deliver 'all services and offerings under the Kantar brand name'. More
Digital research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has promoted Pieter van der Gouwe to the role of Managing Director of its Netherlands operation, while Pim van Leeuwen moves up to Director of Client Strategy and Growth. The pair will jointly lead the Dutch office. More
YouGov media planning and audience segmentation tool Profiles has been combined with the IPA's TouchPoints survey, which provides an annual view of where, when and in what mood people consume media in Britain. More
Shopper intelligence and personalization firm Catalina has partnered with digital tech services company GlobalLogic to accelerate the development and delivery of new data-driven products and digital solutions. More
Kantar is preparing to close its TNS office in Edinburgh by the end of the month, as part of its review of 'strategic priorities'; but two of its former directors, Jim Eccleston and Duncan Stewart, have announced they will launch their own agency, 56 Degree Insight. More
London-based marketing personalization company Qubit has rolled out a new product portfolio to support the personalisation efforts of retail brands. More
Ad and brand research firm Hall & Partners has promoted Joanna Fanuele to Managing Partner in its New York office, leading its consumer division. More
Data-driven research and analytics frim M Science has launched SWIPE UK, a tool giving financial institutions and corporations daily updates on key consumer spending metrics, including revenue forecasts and cohort analytics. More
Consumer insight firm Join the Dots has hired former System 1 exec Maria Spinelli as Head of Asia, based in Singapore and replacing Karen Schofield who is to leaving at the end of the month to 'pursue other interests'. More
In the UK, Tesco-owned customer data science platform dunnhumby has appointed Julie Woods-Moss as Chair of Board of Directors. More
WPP expects to announce a deal selling a majority stake in Kantar to an investor by the middle of the year, according to Chief Executive Mark Read. More
Omnicom subsidiary The Integer Group has launched Sky Bench, a 'retail experience design consultancy' combining online and off-line expertise, with services including shopper journey tracking and planning, retail CX audits and mapping, and venue and space analytics. More
In the US, customer insights platform UserTesting has launched 'Live Conversation Mobile', a feature allowing users to interview customers on their mobile devices. More
In the US, consumer understanding specialist Curion has hired Kevin Coleman to head up its recently launched sensory and product insights platform eFive. More
WPP has reported a 4.5% decline (1.8% in constant currency terms) in revenue for its Kantar data investment management (DIM) division, for the year 2018. Reported revenue was down from £2.7bn in 2017 to £2.56bn in 2018. More
Dentsu Aegis Network has launched its dentsu X media business in Canada. The agency uses an insight-driven media planning approach which goes beyond consumers' claimed behaviour and aims to understand audiences based on their motivations. More
Beth Ann Kaminkow, CEO of Kantar Consulting Americas, is moving across to WPP-owned sister agency Geometry as Global Chief Executive. She joins at the beginning of next month and replaces Steve Harding, who has decided to leave the business. More
Nielsen has reported a 0.9% decrease in full year 2018 revenue to $6.5bn. The company will now restructure into two new segments, Nielsen Global Media and Nielsen Global Connect, and CEO David Kenny says its 2019 focus is to transform into a 'product-driven technology organization'. More
Ipsos has reported organic growth of just 0.7% for 2018, with currency fluctuations reducing reported revenue to EUR 1.7bn, 1.7% down on the previous year. Q4 revenue was up 4.5% to EUR 535.6m, as the firm consolidates recent acquisitions. More
In the US, shopper intelligence firm Catalina is launching a tool called the ID Graph, to 'connect the dots' between the digital ads shoppers see and the items they actually buy in-store. More
Shopper behaviour specialist Kantar Worldpanel has partnered with research-based marketing consultancy Kantar MRB, to enhance the household panel running in Bangladesh since 2012. More
Global MR association ESOMAR has announced a strategic partnership with the newly formed Canadian Research and Insights Council (CRIC), which will adopt a localised version of the ICC/ESOMAR Code of Conduct, and take a seat on its Professional Standards Committee. More
Global ad and brand researcher Phoenix Marketing International has opened new offices in Florida and New York. The company is growing its team following the recent acquisition of Nielsen's Brand Effect solution in early 2018. More
Nielsen has joined the NPD Group in a new alliance which aims to 'reimagine the future of omnishopper measurement'. The partners are building a 'large-scale, comprehensive' consumer panel bringing together Nielsen's CPG measurement and NPD's general merchandise data. More
Starcount, the customer data and insight analytics consultancy led by the founders of dunnhumby, has appointed Joanna Wardle as Chief Commercial Officer. More
Shopper intelligence and personalization firm Catalina Marketing has emerged from Chapter 11 status after financial restructuring and a change of ownership. Michael Bailey joins as CTO, and the company has also reaffirmed its commitment to its Nielsen Catalina Solutions JV (NCS), as has Nielsen. More
Former Kelton Global exec Amy Snow is launching a full-service research and strategy agency called Periscope, based in Los Angeles, California. More
In the US, full-service consumer understanding specialist Curion has launched eFive, a sensory and product insights platform for emerging brands, with testing facilities in Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and New York City. More
Nielsen has rolled out its Smartstore virtual reality (VR) tool in Hong Kong, to help retailers measure and optimise concepts based on how target shoppers react, in any store format. More
Mobile research specialist MFour has launched a service called DisplayCheck, to locate consumers who are in-store while a campaign is in flight and obtain their feedback on whether displays, signage and endcaps are being seen and driving product awareness, perception and purchases. More
Former IRI Retail President David Hoodis has joined in-store solutions company Mood Media as Chief Executive Officer, following the retirement of President & CEO Steven Richards. More
TNS Australia's Chief Commercial Officer Alistair Leathwood has left the company to join consumer data giant IRI as Chief Commercial Officer (APAC), based in Sydney. More
In the US, two of the co-founders of full-service shopper behavior specialist Alter Agents have left the company for their 'next big ventures', leaving Rebecca Brooks with sole ownership of the business. Terms of any deal have not been disclosed. More
WPP's specialist growth consultancy Kantar Consulting has opened a Retail, Sales & Shopper practice in Singapore, and has hired three new members for the team. More
Management consultancy Accenture and R&D firm Qualcomm Technologies have built a solution that embeds eye-tracking technology into a mobile virtual reality headset to help gather consumer data. More
In the US, consumer data giant IRI has appointed Baljit 'Bal' Dail as President of IRI Global, leading the firm's commercial efforts in the US and internationally. He will join on April 1st, 2019, and will also become a member of the IRI Board of Directors. More
In Israel, former Google CMO Alon Chen and techie Eyal Gaon have launched a food intelligence platform called Tastewise, to offer industry insights and predictions based on the analysis of billions of social media posts and photos, restaurant menus, reviews and recipes. More
In the US, consumer insights specialists GfK MRI and Simmons Research have formed a joint venture called MRI-Simmons, jointly owned by respective parent companies GfK and SymphonyAI Group, with GfK as the majority partner. More
In the US, retail information provider The NPD Group has hired Gina Pingitore as Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation. More
US-based product innovation, consumer research and brand strategy specialist Egg Strategy has expanded its Quantitative division with a number of new hires, while promoting Tim Donza to lead its Lifestyle Group. More
In the UK, online food ordering and delivery service Just Eat has hired easyJet exec Alberto Rey Villaverde as Chief Data Officer, starting on 11th March. More
Savanta, the new group formed just last week from four separate research brands within the MIG Global data and insights group of Next Fifteen Communications PLC, has announced an acquisition: the Custom Research division of London's Wealth-X. More
Los Angeles-based custom market research firm Brakethrough Research has acquired eye tracking specialist firm Eye Faster. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Independently-owned Sydney-based research and brand strategy consultancy Pollinate has expanded to Melbourne, where it has appointed former GfK, Nielsen Online and LRW exec Allan Dib as Managing Director. More
In the US, global shopper insights agency PRS IN VIVO has launched an 'in-context' service, to improve clients' understanding of real shopper behavior, and influence consumer choices to impact business results. More
The NPD Group is to work with the U.S. Census Bureau to improve the way retailer data is fed into the Bureau's monthly programs. More
Research and consulting firm Magid has hired Jane Fuller as Vice President, Strategy Consultant, based in New York and focused on clients in retail and CPG industries. More
Vistar Media, provider of programmatic technology for digital out-of-home advertising, has launched a third party measurement suite built on foot traffic studies via partners including NinthDecimal, MFour, Factual, Cuebiq and PlaceIQ. More
Consumer data giant IRI has partnered with MFour Mobile Research to launch a new tool called IRI OnSights, which uses MFour's first-party GPS location data to analyse visits to US bars and restaurants by hundreds of thousands of panellists. More
In Canada, insight tech business Rival Technologies has hired three former Vision Critical execs: Michael Janczak and Dan Fergusson as Vice Presidents of Sales and Business Development, and Kelvin Claveria as Marketing Programs Manager. More
In the US, retail information provider The NPD Group has signed an agreement with the SportsOneSource Group (SOS) to acquire assets from the latter's SSI Data POS Sports and Outdoor tracking business. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Erik du Plessis, former Chairman of Millward Brown South Africa and a pioneer in the field of neuroscience in advertising, died on Monday night after a long battle with cancer. He was 69 years old. More
Consumer goods giant Unilever has partnered with Kantar Media, Nielsen, Facebook, Google and Twitter to build a standardised cross-media brand measurement model. More
In the US, retail information provider The NPD Group has appointed Darren Person as Chief Data Strategy Officer, leading development of the company's tech platform. More
In New York, cross-device targeting specialist Dstillery has launched a platform called the Audience Studio, to help agencies create, explore and activate custom audiences. More
Restaurant sector marketing and analytics firm Fishbowl has appointed restaurant tech sector veteran Mike Dodson as its new CEO. More
MR and consulting firm Research America has opened a testing facility in Altamonte Springs, Orlando, Florida, to be led More
In Germany, retail analytics and shopper insights firm emnos has launched a diagnostic solution called emnosNavigator, to help retail category managers uncover the root cause of unusual category movements. More
Retail data pioneer the NPD Group has appointed former GfK exec Stanley Kee as MD of its APAC business, effective January 2nd 2018, based in Singapore and leading teams in China, Japan, South Korea and Australia. More
Animal health and agriculture researcher Kynetec has appointed Stéphanie Richez as Senior Research Director, based in France. More
Tesco-owned customer data business dunnhumby has launched an online documentary series focusing on innovation in North America's food retail industry, with the first episode airing today. More
Location data marketing platform NinthDecimal has launched a new feature for its off-line attribution platform, the Location Conversion Index (LCI), enabling retailers to link their web site initiatives to in-store foot traffic. More
In the US, shopper targeting firm Valassis has promoted former COO Wayne Powers to the new role of President; and moved Greg Green to the expanded role of Chief Data and Analytics Officer at parent company Harland Clarke Holdings. More
Automated MR company ZappiStore has expanded to Latin America with the appointment of former GfK exec Gabriel Velez, who will lead its operations across the region. More
In the US, people-based ad technology company Viant and consumer data giant IRI have partnered, to boost data and analytics offerings for shopper marketers. More
Nielsen Sports has acquired sports broadcast measurement business Repucom Africa for an undisclosed sum. More
In London, last night's Market Research Society (MRS) awards ceremony saw The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) take home both the coveted 'Grand Prix for Greatest Impact' and the 'Innovation in Research Methods' prizes. More
Consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR has expanded its suite of 'Express' research tools with the addition of 'Accelerator', designed to fast track the early stages of pack and product development. More
In the UK, marcoms network the Unlimited Group has combined four of its existing insight businesses to form Walnut Unlimited, which it describes as a 'human understanding' agency. More
Spanish language broadcast network NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and tech and communities business Maru/Matchbox have hooked up to launch what the firms describe as the largest insight community of its kind. More
Former Nielsen COO Steve Hasker is joining American entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) as Chief Executive Officer of its recently restructured investment arm, CAA Global. More
Today we are launching a survey of the UK market research industry, in partnership with B2B specialist Circle Research. If you're a UK insights or analytics professional, we want your input! More
In the US, retail analytics and shopper insight specialist emnos has hired former Symphony EYC and dunnhumby exec Brian Murphy, to lead its global initiatives and develop new business segments. More
Supply chain solutions provider JDA Software has launched what it describes as the industry's first 'space-aware' assortment optimization solution, in partnership with shopper data firm dunnhumby. The tool uses data science to increase customer loyalty, return on inventory and space. More
KPMG Australia has launched a new Advisory team for Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs), within its Customer, Brand & Marketing Advisory business - and appointed Carmen Bekker as a Partner, heading it up. More
In the UK, mobile intelligence company Location Sciences has partnered with mobile MR and sample specialist On Device Research, to help brands and agencies measure media effectiveness and store visit uplift. More
In the UK, grocery shopping comparison web site mySupermarket has made its premium purchase intent data segments available through local audience data firm Eyeota's Private Data Marketplace (PDMP). More
Dun & Bradstreet's former UK CEO Christian Erlandson is joining GfK as Chief Customer Officer next Monday. He will take over responsibility for sales and business activities across all regions from CEO Peter Feld. More
UK business Barnett Waddingham - which provides actuarial, administration and consultancy services - has appointed former John Lewis Partnership HR insights leader Peter Meyler as Head of it new Workplace Consultancy team. More
Tash Whitmey, the CEO of Havas Worldwide's customer engagement agency Havas helia, is leaving the business to join Tesco in the newly created role of Loyalty and Membership Director, leading the supermarket giant's Customer Loyalty Marketing scheme. More
In New York, marcoms giant Havas US has partnered with former Flamingo/Omnicom Managing Partner Sam Hornsby to launch a brand insight and culture consultancy called TRIPTK. More
Crowdsourced in-store data provider BeMyEye has raised $10.5m in a Series C round of financing, which it will use to accelerate its European expansion and scale the business globally. More
UK-based behavioural economics specialist The Behavioural Architects has announced 'four new significant hires' and says it has 'big plans for further expansion in 2018'. More
Boston-based retail intelligence specialist Survey.com has opened a new office in Charlotte, North Carolina, where it plans to hire 25 full-time employees in the next six months. More
In the US, ad industry strategists Megan Kent and Betsy Liegey have set up a brand and customer experience design consultancy called THE GO LAB, with an offer including consumer research, VOC data analysis, competitive audits and UX journey mapping. More
US-based marketing tech firm Motista, which helps businesses activate 'emotional connections' to predict consumer behaviour, has appointed Michael Mathias as company President. More
In the US, a team of former consumer goods and retail marketing execs have launched a 'cognitive marketing' agency, AIQ, which will use shopper engagement data and artificial intelligence (AI) to help brands and retailers communicate with consumers and enhance ROI. More
In the US, digital marketing and data management platform SRAX has expanded into the sports marketing sector with the launch of a suite of tools called SRAXfan, designed to help identify and target sports enthusiasts. More
Harris Interactive has launched a product called PackTest Express, the latest tool in its digital new product development research suite. More
Edinburgh-based ad measurement and optimization firm TVSquared has acquired German television ad tracking specialist wywy. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
YouGov Group Chief Strategy Officer Alex McIntosh has been promoted to the role of Chief Financial Officer, replacing Alan Newman who is leaving the company at the end of the year. Both McIntosh and COO Sundip Chahal will be given seats on the Board. More
UK-based agency Future Thinking has appointed former Joint UK MD Adele Gritten as (sole) UK Managing Director, following the recent departure of Claudia Strauss. The firm has also restructured and split its client teams. More
In the US, consumer intelligence specialist Resonate has raised $8m in growth capital, which it will use to expand its sales efforts targeting B2C brand verticals, as well as agency partners. More
In New York, recently launched B2B marketing specialist Informa Engage has launched a service called Market Spotlights, providing insights on niche B2B audiences. More
Ipsos grew its Q3 revenue to EUR 434.0m, equivalent to organic growth of 4.9% and representing 'solid recovery'. Due to currency effects - a fall in the value of the US dollar and pound sterling against the euro - the reported figure was up only 0.5%. More
In New York, consumer insights firm Simmons Research has appointed former Nielsen exec Andrew Feigenson as Chief Executive Officer, replacing President and Chief Research Officer Pat Pellegrini, who will be leaving the company. More
Community and survey tech provider Toluna has launched a DIY tool called PowerPack, to help marketers understand the overall strengths and weaknesses of their package concepts - at a speed the firm claims is 'ten times faster' than traditional methods. More
Online panel and behavioral data specialist Netquest has promoted long-time company exec Enric Cid to the role of Managing Director, North America, leading its expansion into the US. More
WPP's Data Investment Management (DIM) arm has seen third quarter like-for-like revenue fall 2.9%. CEO Sir Martin Sorrell admitted to investors that it had been a 'tough quarter' as the group predicts a 'broadly flat' 2017. More
WPP marcoms agency J. Walter Thompson has acquired a majority stake in Brazilian eCommerce and iCloud specialist E-Next Consultoria e Serviços de Internet (Enext). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, consumer data provider Neustar has appointed former Reed Elsevier and PepsiCo exec Carolyn Ullerick as Chief Financial Officer. She replaces long-time CFO Paul Lalljie, who retired last month after seventeen years with the company. More
In Canada, marketing services and data firm Environics Analytics has partnered with location intelligence technology provider SiteZeus, to provide market planning capabilities for restaurants, retailers, convenience stores, and firms in the commercial real estate sector. More
London-based company Attest has launched two new tools - Brand Intelligence Essentials and 360° - to help brands understand their position in the market. More
Chadwick Martin Bailey has officially launched a solution called AffinID, allowing brands to assess and develop their 'customer image' - ie what kind of people consumers perceive to be the customers of that brand. More
Shopper insights firm Kantar Worldpanel has launched a household panel in the United Arab Emirates, driven by a mobile application. More
Shopper intelligence firm Catalina has appointed Kraft Foods veteran Tom Corley as Global Chief Retail Officer and President of US Retail. More
Middle Eastern agency 4SiGHT has appointed former Evo Research and TNS researcher Prachi Dixit as Director, Consumer and Market Insights, Middle East and Africa. More
In the US, consumer data provider 84.51 degrees has launched a cross-channel personalization solution called Kroger Precision Marketing, to help CPG product suppliers drive targeted communications that reward shoppers and drive incremental purchases. More
In the US, consumer engagement specialist EdgiLife has launched a tool called Rapid Test and Learn, to help CPG brands engage with and understand the natural and organic category. More
In the US, location intelligence specialist Spatially has launched its debut product, Spatially Ads, through which brick-and-mortar businesses can tap into the characteristics of their physical location to target customers. More
YouGov has released preliminary results for the year ended 31st July 2017, with revenue up 9% on a constant currency basis to £107.0m, and adjusted profit before tax up 24% to £16.4m. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots is to open an office in New York, led by Jeff Haselum who has been promoted to Head of US Research. More
YouGov CFO Alan Newman has informed the Board of his intention to retire by the end of the year. The recruitment process for his successor is underway. More
UK-based agency System1 has upgraded its award-winning Predictive Markets idea testing technique. Next Generation Predictive Markets draws on learnings from over 40,000 tests and promises clients 'improved accuracy and greater speed at a lower cost'. More
Corporate engagement solutions firm ITA Group has acquired Boston-based market research and strategy firm Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB), for an undisclosed sum. More
UK consultancy Simpson Carpenter is expanding its pharma and biotech operation with a new office in Manchester's MediaCity. Alex Martin and Shaan Bassi join the company and will be based in the new location. More
comScore has teamed up with location intelligence firm PlaceIQ to launch a joint solution measuring lift in retail visits resulting from TV, mobile and desktop advertising. More
In New York, influence marketing company WHOSAY has launched a division focusing on shopper marketing campaigns at the time of purchase. More
Nielsen Sports has shuffled and strengthened its leadership team. Middle East leader Jon Long will move to London in January as MD, UK and Ireland, to be joined by Richard Brinkman, former Global head of KantarSport. Long replaces Jon Stainer who has moved to an expanded MD Americas role. More
US research and advisory firm Forrester has launched an app called Tap, allowing consumers to suggest how brands can improve their customer experience. More
DRNO's Nick Thomas wraps up his review of the 70th Congress with a general verdict - and as you may have guessed after the first three reviews, it's a good one. Not by any means unqualified however - whisper it low, he'll even have a go at the clients. Part 4 of 4. More
Last year saw the MR industry experience its highest level of growth since 2010, according to the latest study by international association ESOMAR. More
Agricultural market research firm Kleffman Group has restructured its market trend information and consulting unit amisAgriGlobe, creating two new teams: the Analytical team and the Team of Excellence (ToE). More
In the UK, point of sale (POS) consumer targeting specialist Ecrebo has appointed former Aimia and dunnhumby exec Michael Poyser as Chief Analytics Officer. More
In New York, consumer insights firm Simmons Research has appointed Arbitron veteran Brad Bedford as Vice President of Media Sales. More
In the UK, dairy co-op Arla Foods has hired former dunnhumby exec Steve Millard for the newly created role of Head of eCommerce & Digital. More
Consumer tracking company The NPD Group has announced the appointment of former GfK leader Gerhard Hausruckinger as Group President for Europe and APAC. More
In the UK, Kantar has launched Worldpanel Plus, promising its 'biggest sample yet' of smartphone users providing insight into their shopping motives and behaviour. More
Retail purchase and attitude data firm InfoScout, now a subsidiary of pricing intelligence specialist Market Track, is launching its services in the UK from January. More
Retail mapping and shopper tracking technology firm Tegla Retail has launched a Tracker tool which uses augmented reality to map shoppers' behavior from store entry to checkout, in brick and mortar sites. More
Retail and healthcare data firm IRI has added an E-POS Measurement Solution to its E-Commerce Solutions Suite, offering granular data on categories, brands, individual items (UPC level) and weekly POS data on e-commerce purchases at the individual retailer level. More
Former MetrixLab and Harris exec Caroline Bastide has joined European consumer and luxury goods researcher Strategir as Digital & Services Director, with a remit to strengthen the firm's existing digital approaches and consolidate its offer in the services sector. More
In New York, Ipsos has announced that academic Jesse Itzkowitz is joining its Behavioral Science Center. More
In Canada, former Verve/Research Now exec Vlad Plouts and long-time Advantage director Mel Fernandes have launched a boutique market research services, analytics and data integration firm called Sprylytics in Toronto. More
Microsoft has patented a tool called the 'Opinion Search Engine', to help companies collect and understand customer feedback and product reviews across the web, and to help consumers with their product choices. More
Leeds, UK-based full-service marketing services agency Brass has hired Sam Bannister as Head of Insight. More
Nielsen has rolled out its Scantrack grocery sales measurement service in Northern Ireland, giving regional grocery retailers and FMCG manufacturers access to weekly sales data gathered from supermarkets and convenience stores. More
GfK has announced a transformation and investment programme, aimed at sharpening its focus on customer needs, accelerating digitization and getting the company 'back on a sustainable growth path'. Plans include a 'one office per country' strategy. More
Chicago-based 3-D research specialist InContext Solutions has integrated its virtual reality (VR) headset into its flagship ShopperMX platform, allowing retailers and brands to view and collaborate on new retail concepts. More
Ipsos Healthcare has extended its Global Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Therapy Monitor to Japan. More
WPP has slashed its full-year growth forecast for revenues and net sales to between zero and 1%, as clients cut their marketing budgets. For the second quarter, like-for-like revenue in the Data Investment Management (DIM) division fell 4.6% to £669m. More
WPP has acquired London-based brand strategy and design agency Design Bridge for an undisclosed sum. More
UK-based marcoms group Creston Ltd will now be known as 'The Unlimited Group' - following the theme of its earlier rebranding of operating companies using the 'Unlimited' suffix. More
In the US, Nielsen Sports' Global Co-MD Danny Townsend has left the firm to become CEO of Sydney Football Club. Glenn Lovett, who previously shared the title, has been promoted to sole Global Managing Director, leading all aspects of the global sports business. More
In South Africa, insights agency Columinate has launched a methodology which measures a research participant's nonconscious attitudes and behaviour towards concepts, brands, services and products. More
In the US, consumer data specialist 84.51 degrees has promoted Kevin Kroner and Chris Gabbard to the role of Development Manager, and Steve Ruwe to Data Development Manager. In addition, Jyotsna Sharma and Ryan Merrill join as Associate Analyst and Senior Developer respectively. More
US-based direct marketing and targeting giant Harte Hanks has received notification of non-compliance from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after its share price dropped below one dollar. More
Q Research Solutions (QRS) and Tragon Corporation have merged, to create what they describe as one of the largest sensory and consumer research suppliers in the US. The combined firms will initially trade as QRS-Tragon. Precise terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, qual and quant agency Critical Research has acquired B2B research specialist Saville Rossiter-Base (SR-B) for an undisclosed sum. More
In the US, retail analytics specialist Enhanced Retail Solutions (ERS) has added twenty years of historical US weather data to its platform, to enable users to correlate sales performance with weather trends. More
In New York, personalized marketing and shopper analytics platform AppCard has acquired loyalty marketing specialist ProLogic Retail Services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has appointed marketing strategist Tracey Hunter as Senior Client Director, while Martin Bryant joins as Client Director. More
GfK has partnered with Edinburgh-based personal financial management service Money Dashboard, to provide retailers and brands with insights into UK consumer spending patterns by category. More
In Singapore, customer insights agency SKIM has appointed Lester Sualog as Client Solutions Director, Asia, while transferring Paul Janssen from its New York office to take up the role of Vice President. More
Loyalty and employee engagement specialist Maritz Motivation Solutions has appointed Drew Carter as President. More
In the US, privacy watchdog the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urging it to halt Google's tracking of consumers' in-store purchases. More
Customer data firm dunnhumby has promoted Jose Gomes to the role of Managing Director of North America. More
In London, brand performance measurement specialist Morar HPI has launched a creative services division called ARGO, offering evidence-based brand development work as well as stand-alone brand and creative services. More
In the US, business intelligence specialist Geoscape has added several new features to its multicultural marketing platform, including access to forecasted cultural segmentation and insights. More
Fishbowl, a customer engagement platform provider for the restaurant sector, has appointed tech entrepreneur Daniel Dreymann as Chief Product Officer. More
Nielsen has reported a 3.0% increase in second quarter revenue to $1.644bn, equivalent to a 4.1% rise on a constant currency basis. In organic terms - excluding the acquisition of Gracenote - the quarter was almost flat. More
Netherlands-based customer insights agency SKIM has opened an office in Gothenburg, Sweden on the campus of Chalmers University of Technology. More
Ipsos has reported what it has described as an 'uneventful' first-half year, with revenue of EUR 833.8m, almost unchanged from a year before, and organic growth of just 1 percent. More
Nielsen has expanded its Everyday Analytics suite with the launch of a tool called 'RMO Sales Planner', which helps FMCG companies evaluate the best combination of price levels and temporary discount events to achieve annual business goals across their product portfolio. More
The Economic Research Service (ERS) department of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching an app called 'Linkages', which connects retail scanner statistics to USDA nutrition databases, enabling researchers to better understand the cost of healthy eating in America. More
Joseph El Habre has been named Chief Executive of Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) & Operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. More
In Germany, crowd-sourced shopper insights provider POSpulse has raised EUR 3m in a Series B round of funding, which it will use to roll out its products to additional international markets. More
Global MR groups The Research Club, Women In Research (WIRe) and MrWeb have teamed up to put the world's biggest listing of research job opportunities in front of a hugely expanded audience of potential candidates. The search is also in a new more mobile-friendly format. More
London-based full-service agency Acacia Avenue has launched its 'Namer' names test solution on ZappiStore's automated MR platform. More
In the UK, customer experience specialist Maru/edr has appointed Damian Miller and Ross Durston as Managing Directors for its Retail and Financial Services divisions, respectively. More
In the US, retail payment data insights provider Commercial Signals has closed an additional $12m in Series B funding, which it will use to expand its products, partnerships and geographical reach. More
In the US, behavioral and product data specialist Bluecore has launched a tool called Audience Insights, to help eCommerce marketers understand how customers are likely to react to future marketing campaigns. More
In London, innovation research and advisory company Stylus has appointed former Nielsen Sport exec Simon Long as Global Chief Revenue Officer, responsible for developing commercial strategy and processes across the firm's membership and for its bespoke advisory services. More
US-based mobile insights and ad platform UberMedia has acquired location intelligence and analytics company Cintric, which provides a picture of consumer behavior including dwell time in stores down to the minute. Terms were not disclosed. More
Local audience data specialist Eyeota has partnered with YouGov to provide clients with an extensive database of consumer opinion and behavior data spanning the US, the UK and Germany. More
UK-based retail insights firm ABA Research has announced revenue growth of 14 percent, to £7.7m, in the year to March 2017. More
Atlanta, GA-based, behavioral insights and consultancy firm CMI has announced a third option within its behavioral economics-based solutions suite. Named yChoose, the tool helps identify what influences consumers in their decision-making, to help marketers out-perform the competition. More
Health and wellness consumer insights agency SPINS has appointed Brian Gillis to lead its North America Retail team. More
In the US, pricing intelligence specialist Market Track has acquired shopper purchase behavior and attitude data provider InfoScout, for an undisclosed amount of cash and stock. More
Sales and marketing outsourcing provider Advantage Smollan has acquired Netherlands and Belgium-based Hamilton Bright Group, a specialist in shopper purchasing behaviour and marketing. Terms were not disclosed. More
Surrey, UK-based Impact Research has been restructured, with Dawn Mulvey promoted to Head of Utilities, Stuart Grant heading Consumer, Monika Swift the New Generation unit and Jamie Margerison managing Healthcare, all now led by co-founder Michael Brainch as Managing Director. More
Retail and OTC health data giant IRI has launched a suite of tools for personalized marketing. The IRI Personalization Suite also promises to allow users to 'definitively' measure and optimize ad spend effectiveness. More
Georgia, US-based VR shopping specialist Advanced Simulations has partnered with research firm Azure Knowledge to launch two new virtual reality research products. More
Companies' intangible assets - including the value of their brands, reputation and employee skills - should be included on balance sheets in financial reporting, according to a growing lobby of experts from both multinationals and consultancies. More
Social media intelligence specialist Brandwatch has unveiled an image recognition platform that it says can track and analyze any logo. More
UK-based data and analytics consultancy MESH has partnered with antipodean shopper consultancy 3Feet to bring the former's Real-time Experience Tracking (RET) methodology and experience metrics to Australia and New Zealand. More
Nielsen has launched Target Group Performance Analysis, a framework helping FMCG manufacturers to predict an innovation's overall viability and growth potential in specific segments. Also this week, the firm has extended its alliance with ingredient data firm Label Insight. More
Nielsen has unveiled a 'Connected System' promising FMCG and retail decision-makers analysis of 'what's happening in the market from every angle', and designed to 'foster collaboration and align organizations'. The System integrates Nielsen data with data from partner companies. More
Fishbowl, a customer engagement platform provider for the restaurant sector and now a part of Symphony Technology Group (STG), has named Jim Soss as CEO. More
In the US, Nielsen has partnered with retail vision technology specialist Trax to jointly create a new tool called the Shelf Intelligence Suite. The firms aim to help FMCG companies better understand how shelf performance directly impacts product sales. More
Italian confectioner Ferrero has opened its first Asian Innovation Centre in Singapore, where it will focus on consumer food science, biotechnology, health and nutrition, consumer insight and design. More
East Midlands, UK-based MR agency Habit5 has appointed Hannah Green as its first Head of Insight. More
US-based global consumer and shopper insights agency Illumination Research has appointed former Nielsen / BASES exec Jim Miller as Vice President of Quantitative Insights & Clients Services. More
Video analytics tech developer Innovid has launched a solution allowing marketers to dynamically customize connected TV and over-the-top (OTT) ads, based on purchase data-driven CPG audience segments from Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS). More
WPP-owned PR consultancy Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) has launched a service called 'The Shanghai Addition', promising a new way to connect Chinese brands with audiences, cultures and markets around the world. More
Swedish firm Tobii Pro has launched a tool which extends eye tracking research to non-game virtual environments. More
In the US, boutique firm Mindseye Research Group has appointed former Invoke Solutions exec Kathy Alexander as Vice President, focused on designing custom solutions to optimize brand development, marcoms, audience targeting, and new concept introduction. More
In the US, product innovation specialist InsightsNow has hired Karen Lynch to lead expansion of its co-creation and co-design methods, which are designed to uncover sensorial triggers of behavior. More
UK-based marcoms business Next15 is merging its two research brands, Morar Consulting and HPI. The new Morar HPI will employ around 60 people and will be headed up by Julian Dailly as Managing Director. More
Informa subsidiary Agribusiness intelligence has launched an agricultural insight platform, IEG Vu, focused on the processed food and soft commodity markets; and has recently added more than twenty new analysts to its team. More
The US research industry maintained a strong annual growth rate in 2016, despite 'tepid' overall economic growth, according to this year's AMA Gold Top 50 Report. Total revenue generated for the 202 companies surveyed was $11.584bn, up 5.7%. More
IRI has enhanced its core business of providing big data and predictive analytics for FMCG manufacturers and retailers, with the launch of a Growth Solutions practice. Former Premier Foods exec Daniel Hunt joins to help lead the practice. More
France-based market intelligence solutions provider Ubiquick Group has acquired Australian telecoms industry research firm Paul Budde Communications (BuddeComm), for an undisclosed sum. More
US location data provider Cuebiq has released what it says is the industry's first report analyzing footfall benchmarks, to help marketers gauge how their ad campaigns perform against industry averages for off-line activities such as in-store visits. More
London and Leeds-based Trinity McQueen has announced year-on-year growth of around ten percent, with sales up to £4.92m in the 12 months ending September 2016. More
UK tech firm Mobile Pay Systems has received a £300k round of funding, which it will use to support the national expansion of its SWOOPOS app, through which users can order and pay for food while providing customer insight. More
Eye-tracking tech firm Tobii has acquired Sticky, which uses webcam-based eye tracking technology to measure ad effectiveness. The deal will be financed with an undisclosed amount of cash, with an option to provide part of the consideration in Tobii shares. More
UK-based market intelligence firm The Business Research Company has relocated its Hyderabad, India team to a larger office in the city, where it plans to increase staff numbers from 70 to 150 in the coming months. More
In the US, Kantar Health has partnered with tech giant Nokia to develop a longitudinal cohort study, to improve understanding of the impact of 'lifestyle therapy' on diabetes treatment and patient outcomes. More
Former Maru/edr director Crispin Boon has joined Hampshire-based Marketing Sciences Unlimited as Research Director in its Packaging & Shopper business. More
In London, consumer specialist Razor Research has set up a kids-focused business unit called Razor Kids, and appointed Leslie Salem to lead it. The firm has also hired Kenny Fox as Associate Director. More
In Chicago, chain management specialist HAVI has launched a platform for the restaurant industry, which uses real-time analytics to deliver insight into a business's promotions. More
In the US, two former Apple engineers have launched a foot traffic counting and analytics firm called Dor, with $3.8m in seed funding. More
Business information and events group Informa has expanded and restructured its Business Intelligence division, as it combines with the brands and businesses acquired from New York-based Penton Information Services last November. More
In New York, Ipsos Marketing has appointed Alison Chaltas, the co-founder of shopper marketing consultancy Interscope, as Global President, Path to Purchase. More
London-based insights and planning agency kubi kalloo has outgrown its former premises in Old Street and relocated to a larger space, a stone's throw away in Scrutton Street. More
WPP-owned growth and business strategy consulting firm Kantar Futures is launching a programme focusing all its analytical efforts on the topic of 'the future of consumption'. More
New York-based Geopath, which was formerly known as the Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurement, has partnered with marketing tech firm Ayuda[x] to power its new OOH (out-of-home) audience measurement solution. More
International communication consultancy Leidar has hired former Brunswick Research exec Phil Riggins to lead its Brand and Reputation practice, whose approach combines opinion research, digital analytics and campaign methodologies. More
GfK has reported a 2.4% drop in first quarter group sales to EUR 352m, while the profit measure EBITDA fell 34.3% to EUR 29.4m. More
Less than two months after joining UK-based consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo, Desirée Lopez has been named Chief Executive Officer, replacing co-founder Kirsty Fuller who is leaving the business. Seven of the company's eight global offices are being closed by parent Omnicom. More
Consumer data specialist 84.51 degrees has appointed Andrew Lundberg as Senior Analyst and Joseph Puchala as Scientific Developer. The firm has also promoted Stephanie Jenkins, Samuel Edison and Brian Balash. More
US advertising and brand research specialist Ameritest has appointed former Ipsos exec Emily Higgins as Vice President, Client Services in its Chicago office. More
WPP-owned digital agency POSSIBLE has acquired data-driven eCommerce agency Marketplace Ignition, which uses research and impact analysis to advise clients on how to grow their business on Amazon and other online marketplaces. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
GfK has extended its partnership with local audience specialist Eyeota, to help clients improve the accuracy of their consumer targeting initiatives using the global agency's 'Purchasing Power' data. More
UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has been acquired by its senior management team from founders and previous majority shareholders Pete and Trish Comley. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
In the US, MR consulting and training provider CourtLynn Enterprises has launched a customer behavior insights division called Griffin Wilds. More
Quadrangle Group's data collection arm RED has partnered with Research Now to launch a solution called STOREWORKS, which promises retailers 'quick, quality feedback' from different groups of consumers. More
In India, Majestic Research Services and Solutions (MRSS) has appointed veteran researcher Indroneel Dutta as Vice President, Client Servicing, responsible for the company's FMCG vertical. More
Omnicom-owned brand and communications research consultancy Hall & Partners has promoted Soumya Roy to Chief Executive Officer of its New York operation. More
M&C Saatchi's qual/quant research agency The Source has opened a first Australian office, in Melbourne, to be led by former London MD Matt Swinson. More
Ipsos has recorded first quarter revenue of EUR 390.1m, representing organic growth of 1%, and says sales activity indicates this will increase in subsequent quarters. The group plans to announce a new programme of transformation at its June 6th Investor Day. More
Nielsen has reported first quarter revenues of $1.5 billion, up 3.2% after excluding the impact of exchange rate fluctuations. The result was driven by a strong performance in the Watch media research division, while the Buy side saw a decline. More
In London, WPP-owned brand activation agency Geometry Global has moved UK CEO Sarah Todd to the role of Head of Shopper Marketing EMEA. Her previous role will be filled by M&C Saatchi Shop founder and former MD Michelle Whelan. More
London-based behaviour, brand and communications research agency Monkey See has appointed former MarketCast and Ipsos MORI exec Steve Smith as Research Associate. More
IBM business The Weather Company has partnered with customer data 'onboarding' specialist LiveRamp, to help marketers integrate real-time weather data into their omnichannel campaigns and target consumers at relevant moments. More
IBM has added new cognitive capabilities to its Watson Marketing Insights solution, which helps marketers understand and anticipate customer behavior. More
Omnicom is closing seven of the eight global offices of its consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo, citing 'underperformance' and its need to now focus on growth opportunities in London. More
YouGov-owned sports and sponsorship specialist SMG Insight has promoted Lance Fraenkel to the role of Vice President, North America. More
GfK has appointed three new members to its Supervisory Board: Thomas Ebeling, Johannes P. Huth and Philipp Freise, following its agreement with investment group KKR which is now its partner in running the global group. They replace Peter Goldschmidt, Aliza Knox and Bruno Piace. More
The UK's supermarkets watchdog is reportedly looking into claims of inappropriate 'favouritism' shown by Tesco towards customers of its dunnhumby data business. More
In New York, the Institute for Sensory Research (ISR) has launched a service for consumer packaged goods companies called 'Flash Discrimination Testing'. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has launched what it is describing as the 'first-ever' tool to link brand equity measurement with actual purchase behaviour. More
Tesco-owned customer data business dunnhumby has a new Chief Executive Officer, current Google exec Guillaume Bacuvier. He takes up his new position in May, replacing Simon Hay who left the business in February. More
Nielsen has launched an eCommerce measurement solution, delivering a 'total consumer view' of 90% of online FMCG sales in the US market. The firm has also introduced Nielsen Artificial Intelligence; a technology that automates audience optimization using patent-pending AI methods. More
In Oxford, UK, sensory and consumer insight specialist MMR Research Worldwide has promoted Client Service Director Judith Henderson to the role of EMEA Managing Director. More
Kantar Media and local audience data provider Eyeota have extended their TGI-based segmentation partnership to Germany and France. More
Retail data firm IRI has developed a new segmentation of the fast-growing self-care industry, which it says is worth $400 billion. Eight distinct profiles can be targeted, based on consumers' motivations, purchasing habits and other behavior. More
WPP-owned brand development and insight consultancy Added Value has appointed Gillian Reilly and Kim Braganza as Associate Directors in its Sydney, Australia team, following the expansion of its client roster. More
Transaction technology giant NCR has integrated its point-of-sale (POS) platform with the systems of cinema data specialist Showtime Analytics, promising cinema clients a better understanding of customer needs and experience. More
In New York, retail data specialist Nielsen TDLinx has split its on-premise licensed dining data into five new sub-channels, to help clients understand the size of each segment and determine which are growing and/or shrinking. More
In the US, Kantar Worldpanel's ad analytics and insight division Shopcom has teamed up with consumer purchasing analyst Affinity Solutions, to help clients predict spend predictions, measure overall sales lift and gauge revenue impact in-store and through online channels. More
YouGov has reported a revenue rise of 24% to £51.4m for the six months to 31st January 2017 - equivalent to 8% on a constant currency basis. The rise was driven by 'strong growth' in the firm's subscription-based Data Products and Services business. More
Ad group Havas has acquired shopper behavioural marketing specialist BD Australia for an undisclosed sum. More
Interpublic innovation arm IPG Mediabrands has appointed Arun Kumar as its first Chief Data & Marketing Technology Officer. He takes up the new position alongside his existing role managing global operations at sister company Cadreon, which focuses on data, tech, insights and activation. More
Media intelligence and monitoring specialist iQ Media has launched a tool giving professional sports franchises and their sponsors real-time data about how their TV and sponsorship activities influence fan engagement, both in-stadium and out. More
In the US, retail information firm The NPD Group has promoted President and Chief Operating Officer Karyn Schoenbart to the role of CEO, succeeding Tod Johnson who will continue full time as Executive Chairman. More
Nielsen has launched an overnight quant innovation tool called Quick Screen, to enable FMCG manufacturers to quickly test new product ideas and measure their potential. More
In Japan, online specialist Macromill has completed its listing on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). More
In the US, shopper insights specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) has launched a solution to measure the sales effectiveness and unduplicated reach of CPG advertising campaigns delivered across TV, desktop and mobile publishers. More
UK-based agency Future Thinking has appointed Jessica Herridge as Research Director within its Communicate team. More
In the US, e-mail marketing and automation software specialist Campaign Monitor has acquired customer data platform Tagga. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In London, ethical product industry specialist Ecovia Intelligence has been renamed 'Organic Monitor', reflecting the broader range of activities the firm is now involved with. More
In Australia, The Lab Insight & Strategy has opened an office in Brisbane, where it has appointed Amanda Windus as Strategy Planner. More
In the US, retail and healthcare data specialist IRI has partnered with information solutions giant Experian, to help marketers identify customers who will drive a better return on advertising spend. More
Consumer data company Equifax has launched Ignite, a data analytics platform, incorporating DIY analysis and data visualization tools and speeding what it calls its 'transformation from a credit bureau into an insights company'. More
GfK has appointed consumer goods industry exec Peter Feld as its new Chief Executive Officer. His predecessor Matthias Hartmann resigned last August due to 'differing views' on the long-term direction of the business between himself and majority shareholder GfK Verein. More
In the UK, brand building specialist Andrew Marsden has launched a brand activation agency called Pilgrim Marketing, offering clients business strategy and brand positioning services combined with creativity and access to in-house research. More
In Africa, mobile-first messaging platform mSurvey and comms company Safaricom have partnered to launch a solution called Consumer Wallet, which quantifies Kenyan consumers' off-line spending, habits and trends. More
In New York, The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed Scott McDonald as President and CEO, replacing Gayle Fuguitt who left last October. More
Manchester, UK-based Join the Dots has reported revenue growth of 26%, to £9.8m for 2016, matching its growth rate for each of the two previous years. More
Westport, CT-based company Critical Mix is launching panels across five major European markets, under the OneOpinion brand. More
Marcoms giant WPP has reported like-for-like falls in revenue for its Data Investment Management (DIM) arm Kantar, of 1.6% in the fourth quarter and 0.9% for the full year. However like-for-like net sales, which WPP has long said are a better indicator, rose 1.5% and 0.9% respectively. More
In New York, health marketing group Evoke has launched a multicultural insight agency called Fabric, which will help clients use insights to help create more 'culturally inspired' brands, and will be led by Managing Director Roger Salazar. More
In London, behavioural analytics and location-based marketing company Movvo has launched the 'Data Maturity Curve', a tool allowing shopping centres to measure how their use of data enhances retail performance; benchmark against the industry; and improve ROI on the data they collect. More
Ipsos has reported 2016 revenue of EUR 1,782.7m, virtually the same as in 2015 but representing 3 percent organic growth - currency effects cancelled out the growth in the Euros figure. More
Business information firm GlobalData Plc (previously PDM) has announced final results for the calendar year 2016, including group revenues passing £100m - including organic growth of 24% and the effect of major acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 71% to £20.6m. More
UK-based insight agency BrainJuicer aims to rebrand as System1 Research, forming System1 Group together with its recently-launched creative house, System1 Agency. More
Australian boutique MR and strategic planning consultancy Ruby Cha Cha has relocated from its central Sydney office to the city's affluent inner city suburb, Surry Hills. More
Toronto-based data collection specialist Delvinia has opened a new office in Quebec, led by former TNS exec Daniel Brousseau. More
Reading, UK-based point of sale consumer targeting specialist Ecrebo has raised £12m in an investment led by Air Miles and Nectar founder Sir Keith Mills, and former Warburg Pincus Head of Europe, Joseph Schull. Both will join the firm's Board of Directors. More
Nielsen has announced the impending departure from its board of Directors of former CEO David L. Calhoun. More
Retail data giant IRI has announced a strategic alliance with 'performance television' company Simulmedia, allowing CPG marketers to target ads to consumers based on actual purchase behavior, using IRI's ProScores. More
Animal health and agriculture researcher Kynetec has appointed Richard Jameson to its leadership team as Executive Director of Global Custom Research. More
Eye-tracking tech firm Tobii AB has reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2016, with SEK 1,053m ($119m) in annual sales, and increasing cash reserves for investment in VR and smartphones. More
Philadelphia-based agency Finch Brands has appointed Thomas Finkle as Chief Innovation Officer, responsible for 'developing innovative approaches to market research'. Lauren Madway Collier also joins, as VP, Brand and Marketing Strategy. More
Qualitative social media intelligence specialist Bakamo Social has launched a listening product called Market Maps, which it claims reveals the motivations and needs of consumers in any category. More
Australian retail research firm koji has launched a data-as-a-service tool called snapshot, to deliver transactional grocery data to FMCG brand marketers and help them better understand basket share, customer demographics and in-store behaviour. More
Omnicom-owned MR and strategic consulting firm maslansky + partners (m+p) has hired Procter & Gamble consumer insights veteran Joe Baumann as SVP of R&D and Product Strategy - a newly created role. More
GfK shareholders have accepted an offer from US-based private equity firm KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) for 18.54 percent of the business. The buy is part of an agreement with majority shareholder GfK Verein to support the group's long-term growth strategy. More
In the UK, dunnhumby CEO Simon Hay is leaving at the end of the month to 'pursue new challenges', after 25 years with the business. More
UK-based BrainJuicer says it will rebrand, unifying its MR business with its recently-launched ad agency and sharpening its focus on behavioural science. The new name, 'though it may not be hard to fathom, has not yet been officially revealed. More
Nielsen has reported 2 percent growth in fourth quarter revenues to $1,656m, similar to the growth figure for the whole of 2016. Q4 revenue in the Buy consumer purchase behaviour segment fell 1.3% to $868m, while Watch media research revenue rose 5.8% to $788m. More
Mobile ad analytics company Marchex has integrated Facebook data into its Omnichannel Analytics Cloud platform, promising marketers the ability to optimize spend across all paid media channels based insight into which drove off-line actions. More
Ipsos has made changes to its Asia Pacific operations, with the news that its business in China will operate as a separate region, led by Lifeng Liu as Chairman and Chief Executive. More
Mobile audience data and targeting specialist adsquare is to make GfK's region-based consumer insights available through its platform. More
In Australia, insights consultancy fiftyfive5 has hired Todd Eldridge for the newly created position of Director of Advanced Analytics, while Tomo Murakami joins as Data Strategist. More
In New York, GfK North America has expanded David Albert's role to include serving as Managing Director of both the Digital Experiences and Shopper and Retail Strategy teams. More
Nielsen has launched a tool called the Benchmark Media Optimizer, helping brands to make data-driven media allocation decisions without the requirement for a custom marketing mix study. More
Brand strategy and insight agency BrainJuicer has promoted Alex Hunt to the role of President, Research Business, in charge of running its market research offering worldwide, and with a seat on the company's Board of Directors. More
Shareholders in UK-based insight and big data business Beyond Analysis have bought back Visa Europe's stake in the business for an undisclosed sum. The firm says the move will allow it to generate insight from across the financial services industry. More
US-based media, event and information company Winsight has received an undisclosed amount of equity and debt funding from investment firm Pamlico Capital, in partnership with the firm's existing management team. More
WPP digital data collection specialist Lightspeed has extended its AmplifyR Appends data service to the UK, France, Germany and The Netherlands. More
WPP's Data Alliance has partnered with South African marketing services provider P:Cubed, giving access to the latter's 2700 fields of data on more than 42.8m consumers to operating companies across the group. More
In the US, cookie-less audience measurement specialist Tru Optik has partnered with Kantar Millward Brown, to help advertisers attribute brand sales to OTT ad campaigns. More
In the US, Nielsen has announced plans to expand its in-market consumer insights service Nielsen Scarborough, to local markets nationwide. More
Chime Insight & Engagement Group has appointed nine new members of staff, including former Northstar Research exec Jack Miles as Insight Director, heading qual and quant projects across a range of sectors. More
In a trading statement issued today, GfK said that both sales and adjusted income had fallen in 2016, in part as a result of negative currency effects. More
Palo Alto, CA-based Symphony Technology Group (STG) has acquired Fishbowl Inc., which provides insight-based customer engagement platforms for the restaurant industry. More
Nielsen is proposing to issue $500m in senior notes in a private offering, which it will use for 'general corporate purposes', and possibly to fund a proportion of its acquisition of media and entertainment data provider Gracenote. More
Retail data firm The NPD Group has launched a suite of scenario planning and simulation tools called the Price and Promotion Management Service, tapping into weekly, store-level point-of-sale data gathered from major US brands and retailers. More
In the UK, consumer data firm IRI has appointed Anthony Graham as EVP of International Solutions and Innovations. He replaces Lynda Gammell, who is returning to the US to lead product management of the firm's Shopper KnowledgeBase (SKB). More
In the US, shopper insights specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) has appointed Nielsen's former MD of Digital Andrew Feigenson as Chief Revenue Officer. More
MasterCard-owned analytics software firm Applied Predictive Technologies (APT) has unveiled a service called Digital Omnichannel Testing (DOT), to understand how online exposure to ads and reviews affect in-store purchases. More
Pricing and strategy consultancy Simon-Kucher & Partners has detailed another year of rapid growth, with revenue up sixteen percent to EUR 241m, and says it plans to grow both headcount and revenue in double figures in the coming year. US growth led the way with turnover up 30 percent. More
Retail technology company Cloverleaf has launched a tool called shelfPoint, which tracks customers' emotional reactions to products while they shop, and enables brands and retailers to capture engagement and sentiment data at the moment of an in-store purchase decision. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has launched a targeting solution which uses frequent shopper program (FSP) loyalty data to help marketers deliver campaigns based on actual purchase behaviour. More
Scientists at University College London (UCL) and consumer data giant dunnhumby have developed a model which they claim predicts when people are most likely to try switching to different products. More
Shopper behavior specialist Kantar Worldpanel has extended its out-of-home food and drink purchase and consumption panels to France, Brazil, Mexico and Thailand. More
In New York, consumer insights firm Simmons Research has promoted Jackie Anderson to the role of Chief Client Officer, while Lois Brennan and Grant Ligon join as Account Directors. More
US market research associations CASRO and MRA have completed their merger, forming the Insights Association. More
Asset management firm The Carlyle Group has joined up with former leaders of Nielsen Catalina Solutions to buy consumer segmentation division Claritas from Nielsen, for an undisclosed sum. More
Californian retail marketing and b2b firm BDS Marketing has launched a new team and solution, BDS Research, whose offer will include analysis of sales impact and performance, visual merchandising and retail experience. More
This is the last edition of Daily Research News for 2016. We wish all our readers, clients, contributors and friends around the world a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. More
Commodities giant Cargill has opened two food research, innovation and product development facilities - one in China and the other in North America. More
Helsinki-based retail Internet of Things analytics and marketing platform Walkbase has opened an office in Dubai. More
International investment business LetterOne (L1) has launched a retail investment arm, L1 Retail, and appointed dunnhumby co-founder and data pioneer Clive Humby to its Advisory Board. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has launched a suite of tools to help mid-market CPG clients identify revenue management opportunities and drive revenue and profit growth. More
Location intelligence firm PlaceIQ has launched a data-as-a-service capability called LandMark, offering access to its curated audience, behaviour and visualisation data gathered from billions of location-enabled mobile device actions each day. More
In New York, Nielsen has partnered with location-based app and data marketing specialist Foursquare, to help marketers better understand how online ads drive consumers into brick-and-mortar stores. More
WPP AUNZ has rolled out the group's integrated retail practice The Store to the Australia and New Zealand market, and named Rob Draper as its CEO. With existing offices in the UK and US, The Store brings together shopper marketing resources from WPP companies around the world. More
US-based in-store data specialist Mobee has added a number of new features to its platform, which uses crowdsourcing to collect, organize and analyze consumer data at scale for retailer and brand clients. More
In the US, pricing intelligence specialist Market Track has hired Ipsos veteran Lisa Lanier as Chief Client Officer. More
UK-based convenience retail strategy firm Insight Research has announced a strategic alliance with US-based retail strategy and design consultant Joseph Bona, MD of MoseleyBona Retail. The two firms will share a new office in Mayfair, London. More
US private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) is launching an offer for a substantial minority stake in GfK, and has entered an agreement with its majority shareholder GfK Verein to support the group's long-term growth strategy. More
Anders Bengtsson, the CEO of US-based boutique insights and strategy consultancy Protobrand, has acquired a majority stake in the company, after recently buying out co-founder Phil Granof's share. The firm has also secured new investors and strengthened its management team. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has announced a partnership with digital shelf analysis specialist Clavis Insight, to help CPG marketers track and assess a brands' holistic online and off-line performance. More
US retail giant Kroger has announced that its Chief Digital Officer (CDO) Kevin Dougherty is to retire at the end of January, when he will be succeeded by Yael Cosset, who currently serves as Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Information Officer of the company's analytics business 84.51 degrees. More
In New York, consumer analytics specialist Simmons Research has hired comScore veteran Steve Dennen as Vice President and Head of Partnerships, to focus on building and maintaining client partnerships and developing cross-channel applications. More
Kantar TNS was one of the big winners at last night's MRS Awards, taking home the Grand Prix for Greatest Impact; the MRS/BIG Award for B2B Research, alongside digital data collection arm Lightspeed; and the awards for New Consumer Insights and Social Media Research (the latter with Unilever). More
US-based transaction data insights firm Commerce Signals has launched databridge, a platform linking owners of purchase data to potential buyers including advertisers, agencies and publishers. More
In Australia, digital out-of-home business Shopper Media Group has launched a new research data division making use of its network of 'Smartlite' digital panels installed in more than 150 shopping centres across the country. More
Nielsen has partnered with product data specialist Label Insight to help CPG clients understand the influence of labels that provide data about nutrients and other content, on what consumers buy, what manufacturers make, and how government organizations regulate. More
Retail information firm The NPD Group has launched a retail tracking service for the US juvenile products market, covering the durable travel, safety, feeding, bed/bath, infant entertainment and furniture categories. More
US-based direct marketing and targeting giant Harte Hanks has sold its data quality business Trillium Software to big data firm Syncsort for $112m in cash. Harte Hanks says the deal will enable it to focus on its core strengths of marketing strategy, analytics, and execution capabilities. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI is to add information from SSI's seven million US panelists to its eCommerce and millennial consumer and shopper segmentation approaches, to enhance its insight into consumer purchasing behaviour. More
Barbara Katz, President of US-based health and nutrition trends MR company HealthFocus International (HFI), is stepping down from the role at the end of the year, to be succeeded by General Manager Steve Walton. More
TV rating body BARC India has issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for firms able to provide TV viewing related consultancy services to its subscribers. More
Qual consumer insights consulting firm RealityCheck has opened an office in Miami, from where it will support clients in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru. More
GfK has appointed Dale Drerup as Automotive lead, June McPherson as Consumer team lead for North America, and Tom Neri - currently head of its Financial Services team in North America - as Technology Industry leader. More
Former BBC Sport Digital Development Editor Chris Hurst is joining Nielsen Sports as Head of Digital for the UK. More
UK-based sister companies Green 4 Solutions and 4Sight Sport & Leisure are merging their offers, bringing together CRM and ticketing software with strategic insight services. More
In Australia, official TV measurement service OzTAM will add a new 'Total Grocery Shoppers' demographic to its TV ratings database next year, alongside the existing 'Main Grocery Buyer' option. More
In the US, restaurant big data firm Bridg has launched a customer relationship management (CRM) solution, to help restaurateurs combine disparate silos of consumer data - including POS, e-mails and loyalty programs - into a unified view of individual customers. More
In the US, pricing intelligence specialist Market Track has combined its feature ad data with Nielsen product sales data to form a new product called Feature Sales Advisor (FSA), tracking the success of this kind of promotion. More
US firm HCD Research has formed a new market research practice dedicated to chain and fast food restaurants, employing a mix of traditional and applied neuroscience methods. More
Ipsos has announced changes in its ownership structure, designed to simplify it and ensure the company's independence over the long term - following the death in December 2014 of co-founder Jean-Marc Lech. More
A sharp fall in income for GfK's Consumer Experiences segment (-7.4%) more than balanced growth in Consumer Choices (+5.4%) in the first nine months of 2016, giving GfK as a whole a 1.7% organic decline in sales. Third quarter sales fell to EUR 355.3m while EBITDA dropped by around a quarter to EUR 43.3m. More
In the UK, full-service marcoms provider the hps group has acquired Covent Garden-based brand, communications and new product development research specialist MM-Eye, from its former owner MM-Eye International Ag in Germany. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Nielsen has launched the Shopper Essentials Suite - a web-based data visualization and analysis solution, designed to provide an interactive view of shoppers across retail channels and categories. More
San Francisco-based retail intelligence specialist Quri has launched 'Performance Driven Merchandising', a platform providing CPG manufacturers and brands with store-level data, software and services to improve merchandising and drive sales. More
Finland-based retail IoT analytics and marketing platform Walkbase has expanded to the US, and has appointed location intelligence specialist Kevin Hunter as President of the Americas. More
US-based full service researcher Lieberman Inc. has acquired New York-based custom CPG specialist FRC Research, for an undisclosed sum. More
GfK has appointed Gary Schanzer to lead its Point-of-Sale (POS) teams in North America - including retail panels for the pet, optics and tire markets - as well as the Group's Value-Added Services in e-commerce content, discount ad tracking, and technology research for investment firms. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has appointed former L'Oreal exec Fernando Zaldivar Kunz as Managing Director in Spain. More
WPP's Data Investment Management arm has reported a 12.1% increase in third quarter revenue to £655m, reflecting the lower value of the pound. On a like-for-like basis, DIM revenue fell 2%, while other divisions averaged more than 4% growth. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI and digital data collection specialist Research Now have expanded their relationship to create what the firms describe as the CPG industry's 'most robust and unique data set'. More
Ipsos has reported a 0.9% increase in third quarter revenue to EUR 431.7m, with organic growth a 'satisfactory' 3.2% during the period. More
In the US, employee-owned full-service agency Target Research Group has appointed research industry veteran Patrick Gorman as its first Chief Marketing Officer. More
Chicago-based 3-D virtual store research specialist InContext Solutions has closed a $15.2m round of funding, which it will use to accelerate its sales and marketing efforts, expand its geographical footprint, and improve its virtual reality (VR) product portfolio. More
Nielsen has reported a 2.5% rise in third quarter revenue to $1.57bn (3.6% on a constant currency basis) compared to Q3 2015. The 'Watch' segment grew rapidly (up 6.7% at constant currency), while restructuring in 'Buy' held back its revenue and drove an 8.3% fall in Nielsen's overall net income to $132m. More
Shopper behaviour division Kantar Worldpanel has launched a consumer panel in the Ivory Coast - its fifth African panel after launches in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Egypt. More
Consumer and media intelligence specialist Neustar Marketshare has appointed Luis Chaves and Sven Bagemihl as Managing Directors in the UK and Germany respectively. More
Consumer and media research specialist GfK MRI has partnered with customer profiling and trend measurement software developer Cubeyou, to help clients understand the relation between social media and product usage. More
Automated MR platform ZappiStore has raised £12m from Amsterdam-based venture capital firm Prime Ventures, which specialises in European tech companies. More
Big data analyst SmartBase Solutions has acquired the assets of data driven marketing firm Group 3 Marketing. Both companies are based in Minnesota, USA. More
In the US, Nielsen Sports has appointed former Repucom execs Danny Townsend and Glenn Lovett as Co-Managing Directors, following its acquisition of the business earlier in the year. In addition, Repucom founder Paul Smith has announced he will leave the business at the end of the year. More
From today, DRNO will be adding a new section focusing on more news of actual surveys - from project wins to interesting fieldwork and results. See the link above for 'Survey Briefs'. We're also, for the first time, offering advertisers a chance to sit at the very top of the news email, for one day. More
In Australia, The Lab Insight & Strategy has opened an office in Sydney, where it has hired former GfK director Andrew Therkelsen as Managing Director. More
Australian researcher Roy Morgan has launched a suite of new features for its digital audience measurement platform, including measurement of cross-device uniques and new segments. More
Detroit, USA-based agency Morpace has appointed Helen Armstrong to lead its growing European Consumer and Retail business. More
Insight and brand strategy consultancy Flamingo has launched a new division dedicated to healthcare and pharmaceutical clients, and appointed former Hall and Partners exec Lee Gazey to lead it. More
In New York, consumer insights firm Simmons Research has strengthened its leadership team, adding former comScore SVP Steven Millman as Chief Scientist, Alan Resneck as CFO and Pyeush Gurha as CTO. More
YouGov-owned sports and sponsorship specialist SMG Insight has appointed former Sodexo exec Sara Eddleston as Head of Consumer Insight. More
Consumer data giant dunnhumby has moved around 800 staff into a new global HQ building in Shepherds Bush Road, Hammersmith, London. More
UK research agency Populus has hired LSE lecturer and former GfK Director Karsten Shaw to head up the analytics division of its Business & Consumer Insight team. More
In the UK, Creston-owned qual and quant digital and sensory research specialist Marketing Sciences Unlimited has hired long-time Tesco exec Claire Hiett for the new role of Client Services Manager. More
Kantar Retail and Kantar TNS have partnered to launch an insights solution called the Canadian ShopperSpective, tracking shopper behavior and preferences in the Canadian retail market. More
Netherlands-based online specialist Blauw Research has launched a new solution called SPRINT, to help teams and organisations access the right consumer insights at any time during the product and service development process. More
Researcher and information provider The NPD Group has announced a partnership with real-time analytics pioneer Neustar MarketShare, combining NPD's data with Neustar's modeling, planning and resource allocation solutions. More
Shopper insight specialist Kantar Retail has partnered with eye tracking firm SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI), to create a virtual shopping experience that provides shopper data via a controlled environment. More
Technology and communities business MARU/VCR&C has promoted David Gardner to the role of Managing Director and head of its San Francisco-based Technology & Retail Practice group. More
Ipsos has launched its first syndicated Global Business Influencers (GBI) survey, looking at the media, business, financial, luxury and travel habits of senior executives across the US and fifteen countries in Europe and Asia. More
UK-based location intelligence specialist Purple has raised $7m in a round of funding, which it will use to recruit an additional 100 new staff in the UK, Spain, the US, Singapore and Australia, as well as at new international locations as they open. More
Montreal, Canada-based SweetIQ, a provider of retail measurement and marketing software, has acquired part of Californian direct-to-business local marketing firm Connectivity, in an all-cash transaction; and has opened a new office in Irvine, CA. More
Northumberland, UK-based success story Dipsticks Research has rebranded, bringing together no fewer than seven group companies under the new umbrella brand of DRG. More
Technology and communities business MARU/VCR&C has launched a new Qualitative Insights arm, which will make use of a broad range of online technologies to probe deeper into consumer behavior. More
In the UK, social and consumer trend forecasting firm the Trajectory Partnership has appointed former NatCen exec Jane O'Brien as a Director. More
Nielsen has partnered with i2C - the joint venture between Sainsbury's and Nectar card owner Aimia - to combine the latter's shopping data with Nielsen Marketing Cloud's consumer and media data, and provide brands with an omnichannel view of customers. More
Los Angeles-based consumer insights specialist Kelton Global has relocated its headquarters from Culver City to LA's tech hub Playa Vista, to accommodate expansion and the diversification of its services. More
In the US, Nielsen has launched an 'Assortment and Space Optimization' (ASO) tool, which merges real-time retailer and market data with space-aware analytics, to ensure each product within a category is allocated the optimal space needed to maximize its performance. More
WPP's data investment management division Kantar has re-branded its twelve operating businesses with a unifying prefix, for example 'Kantar TNS' and 'Kantar Millward Brown'. The exception is digital data collection specialist Lightspeed GMI, which now reverts to its original name Lightspeed. More
Consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo has promoted Sam Gomez to the role of London co-CEO, alongside current agency head Ednyfed Tappy. The firm has also hired former Kantar exec Robert Nagadowski as its first Group Chief Operating Officer. More
Ipsos division ProductQuest has launched a consumer-centric approach called Sense*Suite, to help guide clients' early stage product development initiatives. More
In the US, retail sales, marketing and services company Acosta has appointed former Nielsen leader Steve Matthesen as President and CEO. He succeeds Robert Hill, who has become Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. More
Retail analytics company 84.51 degrees has announced two appointments and two promotions. Brandon Schweitzer joins as an Engineer and Andria Humpert as Senior Business Analyst, while Ben Thurber and Liz Yauch are both promoted to Analyst. More
Family-owned agricultural and industrial commodities giant Cargill has appointed CPG veteran Chuck Gitkin in the newly created role of CMO of its North America protein business - with a remit to help shift its focus to a customer-centric, insight-based strategy. More
In the US, retail merchandising and marketing services provider SPAR Group has appointed R. Scott Popaditch as President and CEO, replacing Jill Blanchard who left last month. More
GfK's majority owner GfK Verein has dismissed a report published in German weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche, which claimed the company may be considering putting itself up for sale. More
Indoor positioning solutions specialist sensewhere has received a £1.4m grant from Scottish Enterprise, which it will use to add staff and further develop its location software. More
GfK may be considering putting itself up for sale, alongside other options, according to reports in German weekly magazine, WirtschaftsWoche. More
Newly rebranded US agency AMC Global has appointed former MarketQuest Global CEO Mary Beth Lake as EVP, Corporate Strategy & Innovation, leading the product design and development practice. More
Software giant SAP has invested in Vivanda, which provides a context-sensitive personalization platform for the food and beverage industry based on a digitized 'food and flavor genome'. More
In-store shopper analytics firm RetailNext Inc. has continued its growth in the Asia-Pacific region with a partnership in Singapore; and announced further investment, also from a company headquartered in the island state. More
Ipsos has partnered with two centers at Yale University and senior insight figures in a number of top consumer companies to launch a new behavioral economics body, The YCCI-Ipsos Think Tank. More
WPP has reported Q2 revenue of £3.46bn, up 3.5% in like-for-like (LFL) terms. Net sales, the group's preferred measure, rose 4.3% on the same basis. As in previous quarters data investment management (DIM) lagged other divisions, with LFL revenue down -0.4% and net sales up 2.0%. More
Seed Strategy, a subsidiary of MR and training provider Burke, Inc., has acquired women's insights and innovation consultancy The Cherri Prince Company. More
Bluebell, PA-based MR and consulting firm Attitude Measurement Corporation is rebranding as AMC Global, reflecting its wider ambition. More
Proximity marketing and analytics firm ShopAdvisor has enhanced its Product Intelligence, Context Intelligence and Shopper Intelligence products, while adding new features to its appNET and Retail Partner Program. More
In the US, marketing consultancy Wiser Marketing Group has launched a proprietary ethnographic and behavioral modeling methodology called PurchaSCIENCE, to help clients better understand the brand/consumer relationship. More
Nielsen and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) have formed a partnership, to help retailers and manufacturers better understand the change driven by digital technologies within the food marketplace. More
GfK has announced that its results for the first six months of the year are 'below prior year's financials for the same reporting period', and warns it is no longer likely that group sales growth will outperform the market. More
New York-based location intelligence firm PlaceIQ has enhanced its technology with the addition of location-based spending data from MasterCard's insights arm MasterCard Advisors. More
Consumer data specialist 84.51 degrees has acquired predictive analytics company Market6, with which it will merge. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen has reported a 2.4% increase in second quarter revenues to $1.596bn, with both its Buy and Watch businesses providing a 'solid performance'. On a constant currency basis, revenues were up 4.5%. More
Ipsos has reported first half 2016 revenue of EUR 833.6m, equivalent to 3 percent organic growth once currency effects are excluded. The result is an improvement after a flat 2015. More
UK online retailer Shop Direct has appointed has appointed McKinsey & Company junior partner Assi Gol to lead its customer intelligence teams. He replaces Dene Jones, who left the company earlier this year. More
Dubai-based management consultancy UAE Business Solutions (UBS) is launching a restaurant consultancy division, which will offer market research, feasibility studies, support, planning and strategy for new and existing eateries. More
Cincinatti-based consumer data and engagement specialist 84.51 degrees has made three hires and announced three promotions. The latter are Meredith Ficks, promoted to Capability Director, Jeffrey Hetzel, who becomes Data Delivery Director and Ali Hodek who is now Client Lead. More
Manchester, UK-based full service agency Mustard has appointed Laura Lyon from BBC Worldwide, Irina Dimitriade from DJS Research, and Hannah Barnsley from NHS England, while promoting Anthony Shephard to Associate Director, and Jack Melton Bradley to Research Manager. More
In the UK, branding and retail design consultancy Portland Design has launched a standalone unit, offering consumer insights and trends for the retail, travel and leisure industries. More
US portfolio company Eagle Holdings has named Path to Purchase Institute founder Peter Hoyt President and CEO, following its recent acquisition of his former company and publishing firms Stagnito Business Information and Edgell Communications. More
Research Now has partnered with category management and shopper insight specialist Lucros Partners, and will sell its Shopper Intelligence platform in the US. More
Synovate veteran Steve Wolf has joined Phoenix Marketing International as Chief Client and Marketing Officer, with a focus on strategic business development and marketing, as well as creating new qual research products. More
In the US, point-of-sale data giant Catalina has launched a marketing planning app, which taps into insights from 260 million shopper IDs and sixteen billion shopper transactions to help CPG brands and retailers understand their marketing campaign return on investment (ROI). More
DrMoSacoor Digital, the owner of healthcare insight specialist MMR International (MMRi), has acquired social media listening firm Klood for an undisclosed sum. The firm has also hired Ellie Osborne as Qualitative & Digital Research Director, in charge of the Qualitative Research team. More
US business app developer Infor has acquired retail big data predictive analytics and data science firm Predictix for an undisclosed sum. Infor has also expanded its retail business unit to Europe, with the appointment of Jason Berry as Vice President, EMEA. More
Nielsen firm Brandbank has launched in the US, where it will provide CPG and retail clients with product and brand image content via digital means. More
Consumer data specialist 84.51 degrees, the firm which grew out of dunnhumbyUSA, has appointed three people, and promoted Molly Hjelm and Lisa Barnes to Director level, strengthening its Brand Media offering. More
Retail data giant IRI has extended its long-running partnership with natural, organic, and specialty products insight provider SPINS, to launch a new Shopper Intelligence solution for natural retailers. More
BrainJuicer has officially launched its 'System1 - Feel More: Buy More' creative agency, which taps the group's work in behavioural science and its belief that the emotional, instinctive 'System 1' brain trumps the rational, evaluative 'System 2' brain when consumers make brand choices. More
In the UK, Creston-owned agency Marketing Sciences Unlimited has promoted neuroscience man Andy Myers to its Board. More
In the US, ad targeting specialist xAd has launched a real-time location intelligence platform called MarketPlace Discovery, which provides visual insights into foot traffic behavior in the physical world. More
Customer insights specialist Symphony EYC has acquired UK-based Fifth Dimension, which offers retailers and CPG manufacturers a range of store planning, 3D store and product visualisation solutions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, shopper insights specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) has released what it describes as the 'first ever' consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry benchmarks for return on advertising spend (ROAS) and sales productivity metrics across media type. More
US-based Simmons Research has integrated national TV viewing data into its National Consumer Study (NCS). More
Facebook has launched three new solutions intended to drive people to brick and mortar shops and measure the number of shop visits and in-store sales following a Facebook mobile ad campaign. More
In the US, Nielsen Consumer Neuroscience has launched a suite of tools called Video Ad Explorer, which uses a variety of neuroscience technologies to predict in-market consumer sales and behavior. More
In Minneapolis, WPP's GroupM has set up Team Arrow Partners, an agency combining analytics with creative media thinking and focused on servicing retailer Target. Jason Harrison moves across from Gain Theory to take the CEO role, while Nicole Pomerleau becomes Chief Client Officer. More
In Sweden, store security specialist Axis Communications has spent an undisclosed sum to acquire Cognimatics, whose services include people counting, queue measurement and occupancy estimation. More
Michigan-based shopper and consumer marketing specialist The Mars Agency has hired Janice Easton as VP in charge of its Performance Targeting & Analytics team; and Amy Cronin as Director, Performance Targeting & Analytics, reporting to Easton. More
UK agency Future Thinking has launched a new approach called Skin Deep, using the technique of galvanic skin response to gauge consumer emotions. More
In the UK, two veteran sports researchers have set up a new full service agency focused on the sector. Jack Murray was most recently Head of MR at Kantar Sport, while Michael Stone led research at Sports Marketing Surveys. More
Tokyo-based Cross Marketing Group (CMG) has launched a service called Virtual Insight 360° View, which builds a panoramic virtual store space from images and videos of an actual store, to provide an environment for surveying and observing participating shoppers. More
In the US, Kellen Frank has returned to retail information firm the NPD Group as Vice President, Product Development, working closely with its Retail Business Group team to enhance its product portfolio. More
US marketing services company Connexity has enhanced its audience segmentation platform AudienceView, with a combination of online behaviour data collected by Hitwise and thousands of survey-based audience attributes from Simmons Research. More
The new Chief Executive of British high street legend Marks & Spencer has promoted head of marketing Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne and halved the size of the company's operating committee as the retailer looks to speed up decision-making and put the customer 'at the heart of everything it does'. More
According to German-language sports industry news site SPONSORS, Nielsen is planning to buy sports broadcast measurement specialist Repucom for more than $100m. More
GfK has achieved 'moderate' organic growth of 0.9% during the first quarter of the year. Currency effects meant the reported sales figure declined 0.6% to EUR 360.5m versus Q1 2015. The firm's Consumer Choices sector grew strongly while 'Consumer Experiences' revenue fell. More
Sister agencies ShopperTrak and FootFall have launched what they describe as the retail industry's first Global Traffic Index, tapping their vast database of retail behavior to provide insight into the number of shoppers visiting stores and shopping centres. More
Research technology provider Interactive Video Productions (IVP) has unveiled a 'Neuro Omnibus for Video Testing', allowing researchers to put their video in front of an audience of consumers and track their subconscious response. The Omnibus is supported by HCD Research. More
US-based mobile insights and advertising platform UberMedia has launched a new service called Cross-Media Local Visit Measurement (xLVR), helping marketers to assess how their media investments are driving foot traffic. More
Kantar Retail has transferred Cédric Guyot to the CEO role in its Virtual Reality unit, replacing Jeremy Cohen who moves into the role of CEO Kantar Retail Europe. More
Palo Alto, California-based promotion-testing specialist Eversight has raised $14.5m in funding, with which to scale up its cloud-based predictive analytics software. More
WPP has reported first quarter revenue of £3.076bn, up 5.1% in like-for-like terms. Net sales - its preferred measure - rose 3.2%. As in recent quarters however, insight division Kantar performed less well than other units, with like-for-like revenue and net sales figures flat (up 0.5% and down 0.1% respectively). More
Ipsos has announced organic growth of 3.7 percent for the first quarter of 2016, with revenue rising to EUR 386.9m, its best result for some time. The rise 'concerns all regions', with revenue up 4.6% in emerging economies and up 3.3% in developed markets. More
Dublin based agency RED C Research & Marketing Ltd has opened a UK office, in Soho, London. RED C Research UK Ltd is a joint venture between the agency and Richard Barton and Charlotte Butterworth, both of whom left MD roles at Future Thinking in February. More
Fast food leader McDonald's is in buoyant mood, pushing a growth agenda by 'applying forensic analytics across all aspects of the business', according to CEO Steve Easterbrook. More
US researcher Gongos has formed a strategic partnership with Minneapolis-based consumer trends specialist Panoramix Global. The firms aim to provide corporate clients with a holistic understanding of the forces shaping their business including cultural context, business environment and consumer insights. More
Mobile audience targeting platform Go2mobi has partnered with location-based ad targeting firm Placed, to provide insight into 'mobile moments' that drive engagement, foot traffic and in-store revenue. More
In Australia, research consultancy AMR has hired Dorothy Dudley as Qualitative Director and Nick Deverson as Group Account Director. More
Nielsen has reported a 2.0% rise in first quarter revenue to $1,487m, equivalent to growth of 5.2% on a constant currency basis. Growth reflects what it describes as 'solid performance' in both its Buy and Watch businesses. More
Retail and shopper marketing veteran Ron Magliocco has joined NYC-based on-demand retail intelligence provider Survey.com as Chief Customer Officer. More
Proximity marketing and analytics firm ShopAdvisor has acquired in-store product data and location services specialist Retailigence, for an undisclosed sum. More
In London, kids, youth and family research specialist iGen Insight has promoted former AD Maxine Fox to Managing Director, and appointed Monika Gorasia as Insight Executive. More
London-based full service agency Basis Research has opened its first US office, in Los Angeles, led by former Hall & Partners exec Kate Hartzell. More
Nielsen and eCommerce analytics company Profitero have partnered to incorporate the latter's Digital Shelf 360 suite into the former's eCommerce offering, allowing FMCG manufacturers to correlate digital shelf analytics with actual sales data. More
London-based communications research agency MESH Experience has appointed Kahren Kersten as Experience Director for the EMEA region, responsible for leading its London-based team. More
Customer science company dunnhumby has appointed Symphony IRI veteran Rob Christian to lead business development across the US. More
Marketing software firm Bridg has launched a service called Reveal, to enable restaurant operators to identify and segment customers, and to track behavior such as visit frequency patterns and spend per visit. More
Media services division Omnicom Media Group (OMG) has unveiled a new data-driven marketing agency network, Hearts & Science; and appointed Scott Hagedorn - formerly Chief Executive of its analytics division Annalect - as its CEO. More
Retail information provider The NPD Group has introduced an approach for identifying the value in dollars of individual product features, to help manufacturers and retailers make more informed product development and marketing decisions. More
In the US, TapInfluence and Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) have announced they are working together to help CPG brands measure the in-store sales impact of their influencer marketing campaigns. More
In the US, online pregnancy and parenting resource BabyCenter, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has appointed Laurie Dewan as Vice President of Research, Insights and Data. More
US data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions Ltd has opened a new facility at the Coral Square Mall in Miami, led by Matt Wilson. More
YouGov-owned sports and sponsorship specialist SMG Insight has appointed former Repucom MD Charlie Dundas as Commercial Director. More
Four former Hall & Partners execs have launched a new London-based qualitative agency called Compton+Dean, focusing on brand and communications research. More
In the US, focus group facilities and recruiting services company L&E Research has acquired Minneapolis-based Focus Market Research from President and owner Judy Opstad. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online specialist InSites Consulting has reported a 20% increase in revenues so far in this fiscal year, and says it is anticipating revenues of EUR 23m - representing 30% organic growth - by the year end on 30th June. More
St Louis-based multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotech corporation Monsanto has appointed Nielsen CEO Mitch Barns to its Board of Directors. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has introduced a solution which links media exposure to actual off-line purchases down to the specific product and household level, in order to determine which digital media is most effective with target audiences. More
US full service agency Resolution Research has opened a new focus group facility in Denver, including facilities for one-on-one interviews, product tests and training. More
Israel-based customer insight and personalization software provider ciValue has closed a $2.4m seed round from a group of investors including Nielsen Innovate. The funding will be used to roll out a new self-service solution for grocery, health and beauty retailers. More
London-based brand consultancy Morar has named co-founder Roger Perowne as MD, and Julian Dailly as Head of Consulting. The firm has also hired former Redshift Research Director Jane Hall, and Paddy Sutton, founder of The Nautilus branding consultancy. More
Winchester-based Marketing Sciences Unlimited has opened a London office, at the HQ of parent company Creston, in Soho. More
GfK has partnered with local audience data specialist Eyeota, to make its regional purchasing power data available to advertisers in the UK and Europe, and help them tailor their online ads to specific income target groups by region. More
In London, digital customer experience software firm Q-nomy has launched a solution called Q-Flow Insight, to enable retailers and service providers to analyse customer journeys in physical stores and across online and mobile platforms. More
US-based energy and environment information giant IHS has announced it will merge with financial data company Markit. The all-share transaction is a mega-merger for the sector with an estimated equity value of more than $13 billion. More
In New York, marketing tech and data analytics company RevTrax has hired former Experian and Arbitron exec Jim Tobolski as EVP, Sales & Customer Success. More
Shopper insights specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) and media giant Time Inc. have teamed up to launch a cross-platform ad measurement tool, tracking the quantifiable in-store sales impact of campaigns across print, digital and TV. More
The UK's 'professional research and evidence market' has grown massively in the last three and a half years to an annual turnover of £4.8bn - up 62% - and a workforce of 73,000 professionals, according to a report by PwC for the MRS. More
US-based direct marketing and targeting giant Harte Hanks has acquired strategy, business analytics and operations consultancy Aleutian Consulting for an undisclosed sum. In addition, Harte Hanks has opened new offices in Denver, Colorado to accommodate both firms' teams in the city. More
In the US, neuroscience research specialist HCD Research has partnered with testing lab provider IVP to offer integrated sensory research and user experience (UX) services. More
Seattle-based customer intelligence specialist AreaMetrics has raised $2m in a seed round of funding, which it will use to expand the reach of its product, and add new staff to its executive team. More
In the UK, retail and healthcare data giant IRI has partnered with retail media agency Capture, to enable supermarkets and brands to track the real-time effects of their in-store marketing material. More
Manchester, UK-based consumer insight agency Join the Dots has appointed three new members of staff - Paul Das, Lindsay Hart and Bri McIntosh. More
In the UK, branding and retail design consultancy Portland has hired trends insight specialist Terna Jibo for the newly created position of Head of Strategic Insights. More
WPP has reported total 2015 revenue up 5.3% on a like-for-like basis, with headline EBITDA of £2.002bn, up 7.7% at constant currency. Revenue in pounds was up 6.1% to £12.235 bn. The insight-focused 'data investment management' division (DIM) remained flat for the year, although slightly improved in Q4. More
Janet Oak has joined Ipsos as Senior Vice President of the Millennials, Kids & Family Center of Excellence, based in New York. More
Sagaci Research has opened an office in Luanda, Angola - its second base in Portuguese speaking Africa after the opening of the Maputo, Mozambique office in 2014. More
GfK is bringing its Consumer Choices and Consumer Experiences divisions closer together in North America, and has appointed Gary Cofer as Managing Director responsible for both sectors in the region. More
In the US, retail information firm The NPD Group has introduced a pre-market sales forecasting service, which can be used to assess and improve the sales potential of new and revamped products and services before they are launched. More
UK agency Conquest is launching a 'brand love' measurement tool called Charismatix, which combines avatar-led online technology with cognitive science and enhanced implicit testing to understand what links customers to brands, advertising and products. More
Nielsen is expanding its eCommerce measurement solution to the US market, to serve the needs of both retailers and manufacturers. The solution will be integrated into Nielsen's current measurement services and will be available to US clients later this year. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has appointed former Reckitt Benckiser exec Caspar Netscher as Executive Vice President of Regional Client Growth Development (CGD), based in its Netherlands office. More
In the US, retail services specialist SLI Systems has introduced a dashboard that measures how customers interact with retail eCommerce sites. More
US consumer data giant IRI has expanded its retail offer in Europe with the launch of a solution called IRI Holistic Retail Solution (IRI HRS), combining analytics from many retail data sources in a single unified platform. More
Brand insight agency BrandHook has open an office in Sydney and appointed Leading Edge co-founder Tim Biddlecombe as Head of Strategy. More
Cambridge, MA-based GuestMetrics, which provides Point-of-Sale transaction analytics and insights for the food & beverage, hospitality and financial services sectors, has announced a new analytics platform and dashboard. More
Former P&G and Walmart exec Andy Murray is to join the latter's UK subsidiary Asda next week as its Chief Customer Officer, taking a seat on the executive board and replacing Barry Williams who is leaving the company. More
Kantar has moved Adrian Gonzalez into a broader group role in charge of its Consumer Insights businesses - he was previously CEO of Millward Brown's Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific (AMAP) region. TNS APAC CEO Chris Riquier is among those leaving the business in the restructure. More
In the UK, movement intelligence and shopper behaviour analyst Movvo has hired retail specialist Alexandra Petit as Customer Experience Officer. More
In Australia, insights consultancy fiftyfive5 has expanded into retail strategy, category management and shopper insights, appointing Sue Temple as Director Shopper and Category, and Peter Firth as a Consultant. More
In the UK, retail behaviour specialist Shoppercentric has introduced an annual study called the 'Shopper Stock Take' index, tracking consumers' thoughts and feelings about the grocery retail sector. More
GfK returned to organic growth (up 1.1%) during the 2015 financial year, after a decline of 2.0% the previous year. Reported sales increased by 6.3% to EUR 1.54bn (from EUR 1.45bn). More
Consumer specialist 2CV has promoted Adam Short from the role of Head of Quant to Managing Director of its operations in London. More
In New York, Nielsen has promoted Matt O'Grady to the position of Chief Executive Officer of its shopper insights specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS). More
In London, start-up company people.io is trialling an app allowing consumers to trade information about their tastes and preferences for credits, exchangeable for goods or services. More
In the US, coupon trends and shopper promotion analysis specialist Inmar has acquired Chicago-based consumer product data and insights firm Willard Bishop. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
African agency Sagaci Research has expanded with the opening of three new offices, in Ivory Coast, Chad and Algeria. More
ThinkNow Research, which until now focused purely on the US Hispanic consumer segment, has expanded its coverage to include African-American and Asian demographics. More
US-based consumer behavior and location-based analytics specialist ShopperTrak has introduced a new Advanced Analytics platform, integrating multiple data sets to provide additional insights for retailers and mall owners. More
In the US, location-based retail data specialist Euclid Analytics has closed a $20m Series C funding round, with which to continue its rapid growth. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has appointed former NCR and Walmart exec David Hoodis as President, Americas Retail. More
In the UK, CRM agency Amaze One has appointed Paul Kennedy as Data Strategy Director in its London office. More
In the US, inventory optimization and demand planning software developer JustEnough has released a new feature called Customer Insights, to help retailers analyze customer data and help optimize assortments, promotions and pricing. More
In the US, full service firm RTi Research has acquired Stamford, CT-based boutique strategic researcher and consultancy Hamill Associates. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
London-based brand consultancy TransgressiveX has launched a proprietary tool called The Brand eXchange Power Survey, which analyses implicit (as opposed to rational) consumer response, to understand the impact of a brand at each point in consumer journeys. More
Mobile location data platform UberRetail has teamed up with geospatial business intelligence consultancy B.I. Spatial and US shopping center data source Directory of Major Malls (DMM), to analyze shopping centers and malls using mobile device GPS data. More
Canadian retail analytics software provider Askuity has closed a $2m Series A round of funding, led by existing investor dunnhumby Ventures. More
Shopper research specialists PRS (Perception Research Services) and IN VIVO have merged under the new name PRS IN VIVO. Terms were not disclosed. More
Tyco, the fire protection and security specialist which recently bought retail traffic analytics specialist FootFall from Experian, has acquired retail analytics and intelligence provider ShopperTrak for approximately $175m in cash. More
US retail discount chain Target Corporation has appointed Keith Colbourn as SVP of Loyalty and Lifecycle Marketing, leading the development of data-driven marketing strategies. More
First Insight, which helps brands incorporate the voice of the customer into the design of new products, has launched a new process called ForeSight, to help users measure their own product success rates and benchmark them against industry peers. More
Millward Brown and comScore have teamed up to connect validated ad viewing with changes in consumer behaviour, helping brands assess the performance of their digital advertising. The service will cover 'all markets outside the US, Canada and Taiwan'. More
In New York, Nielsen is promoting Steve Hasker to the position of Global President and Chief Operating Officer from January 1st. He takes over the COO role from Brian West, who announced his resignation last month. More
In the US, retail information firm the NPD Group has hired Jeremy Allen as Group President, Product. He was previously EVP of Nielsen's Marketing Effectiveness Practice. More
Information services giant Experian has sold two high profile consumer insights businesses, Hitwise and Simmons, to Symphony Technology Group for $US 47m plus up to $5m in earnout. More
Dublin, Ireland-based online store analytics provider Clavis Insight has launched a new service, Advanced Amazon Analytics (AAA), which includes technology to track activity, pricing and availability for client and competitor brands on the retail giant's one hour delivery app, Amazon Prime Now. More
US consumer data giant IRI has partnered with location intelligence firm PlaceIQ to provide marketers with insights into shopping journeys, and to examine how information about off-line purchases can be used to target advertising. More
In the US, member-based advisory company the Latinum Network has launched a platform called the Shared-Cost Insights Accelerator, through which companies can access data about America's multicultural consumers. More
GfK has added 360-degree product view capabilities to its Spex Access suite of services, to provide shoppers with a more detailed look at items before making a purchase. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has launched a service called Swift, which provides the global movie industry with a single source of box office sales reporting data. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has published its Annual League Table, with data drawn from 86 eligible organisations generating a combined turnover of more than £2.7 billion. The figure represents overall year-on-year growth of 4%. More
Manthan Systems, which develops business intelligence (BI) and analytics for the retail and consumer packaged goods sector, has launched a new tool called 'Retail Analytics' combining enterprise BI data and ad hoc analysis. More
Manchester, UK-based research agency Join the Dots has taken on eight new graduates, the third wave of its annual Graduate Development Programme. It has also hired former TBWA exec Hollie Clark, who will design creative strategies for global brands. More
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In the UK, food and drinks industry R&D firm Campden BRI has opened a dedicated consumer test centre in Leamington Spa, to uncover insights about new products and provide related quant and qual consumer research. More
New York-based mobile ad targeting specialist 4INFO has partnered with WPP's Kantar Shopcom to enable SKU-level targeting for retailers across more than fifteen categories. More
Cincinnati-based restaurant industry consumer analytics specialist Zipscene has received an undisclosed amount of growth funding from Fifth Third Bancorp. More
In the US, kids and family researcher Julie Katz has joined specialist agency Smarty Pants in the role of Insights Jedi (yes). Katz was previously Consumer Insights Manager at the LEGO Group. More
Consumer tracking firm The NPD Group has launched a new analytic service integrating clients' own segmentation schemes with sales and market share 'data of record' for every industry and country covered by its survey-based trackers. More
GfK has agreed to sell its global Animal and Crop Health division to a consortium comprising private equity investor Inflexion and the current management team led by Stephen Hearn. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
GfK has reported 0.7% organic growth for the third quarter, with sales in Euros up 4% to EUR 371.4m. For the first nine months of the year, the group saw sales rise 6.0% to EUR 1.118bn - up just 0.4% in organic terms. More
GfK has introduced a new brand and communications tracking platform, providing real-time access to data, dynamic 'hot alerts' based on a variety of KPIs, and data visualization tools. More
UK-based research / business intelligence firm Future Thinking has streamlined its company structure with a simplified offer. More
WPP division Mindshare is rolling out its Shop+ real-time retail data unit globally. The unit works with a range of methods from beacons in physical stores to real-time response technologies used by online retailers. More
Retail intelligence and digital marketing solutions provider Engage3 has launched a new competitive intelligence platform called MissionControl. More
Product research and sensory testing company Contract Testing Inc. (CTI) is moving to a new location in Grand Rapids, Michigan. More
STW Group-owned brand development and insight consultancy Added Value has promoted Dennis Wong to the position of Managing Director, Australia, replacing James Pike who has moved to sister agency Bohemia. More
In a London museum, cultural and semiotic insight specialist Space Doctors has launched an installation called Choco-Phonica, consisting of a series of booths which explore consumers' relationship with chocolate through sound and taste. More
Chief Operating Officer Brian J. West has resigned from Nielsen, effective at the end of the year when his responsibilities 'will be divided among existing company executives'. More
In-store marketing analytics provider NOMi has been awarded a patent for the tracking and analysis technologies available in its Brickstream LIVE sensor device. More
In the US, shopping center operator Westfield Corporation has appointed Raghav Lal as its first Chief Data and Analytics Officer, responsible for overseeing a newly formed Big Data and Analytics division. More
Computer vision technology developer SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) has introduced an automated analysis solution for mobile eye tracking data. More
US consumer insights specialist Kelton Global has appointed former Edelman Berland COO Brett Davis as its first Chief Operating Officer, responsible for strategic business planning and resource allocation, as well as overseeing its finance and operations. More
WPP has reported like-for-like revenue up 4.6% for Q3 2015. The insight division, known as 'Data Investment Management', was among those 'improving versus the second quarter' but once again was the only one to report a slight decline in revenue. More
Recently launched consumer data specialist 84.51 degrees, which was created from what was previously known as dunnhumbyUSA, has appointed six new members of staff at its offices in Cincinnati. More
Nielsen has reported a 5.0% constant currency increase in third quarter revenue to $1.53bn on a basis, and adjusted EBITDA up 6.9% to $479m on the same basis. More
Ipsos has reported a 3.7% increase in revenue to EUR 428m for the period from July to September, but at constant scope and exchange rates this equates to a fall of 2.2%. The decline cancels out a small real-terms rise in the first half of the year. More
Tesco data firm dunnhumby has renamed its price modeling and customer insight firm KSS Retail 'dunnhumby Price and Promotion'. More
Business intelligence solutions firm Prosper Insights & Analytics has formed a strategic alliance with Hong Kong-based Fung Business Intelligence Centre (FBIC), to provide insights and analysis on retail and technology trends among US and Chinese consumers. More
San Francisco-based Quri, which provides retail intelligence based on reports from mystery shoppers, has raised $17m in a Series C round of funding. Plans for the money include expansion into markets in seven other major US cities. More
In the US, retail and healthcare data giant IRI has tagged a million of Research Now's consumer panelists using its 'propensity-to-purchase' ProScores models, enhancing its ability to select consumers and shoppers based on their predicted purchase behaviour. More
Three founders of US full service agency Dialogue have renamed the company Alter Agents, and launched a CPG research platform called Shopper STAT. The fourth partner, Patrick O'Neal, will continue to deliver qual research and strategic planning under the Dialogue company name. More
US-based customer service platform Zendesk has introduced a machine learning and predictive analytics feature called Satisfaction Prediction, which uses historical customer survey results to predict which individuals are likely to provide negative feedback. More
Luxury department store Harrods is investing in audience measurement technology, to help understand which customer types are watching its in-store advertising screens. More
In the UK, Research Now co-founder Andrew Cooper and the firm's former Chairman Geoff Westmore have led a $1.5m investment in mobile video MR specialist Voxpopme. More
UK supermarket Tesco has decided to abandon the sale of its customer data business dunnhumby, after its price tag dropped from an initial £2bn to around £700m. More
Oxfordshire, UK-based MMR Research Worldwide has launched MMR Express, a suite of tools for rapid and cost-effective insights. The solutions include screening, concept and package testing and optimisation, online focus groups and video, and rapid sensory evaluation. More
In the US, Nielsen has launched a service called 'Homescan Consumer Moments', which uses mobile app technology to research consumers' eating and drinking habits. More
UK supermarket Tesco is reportedly close to giving up on the sale of its customer data business dunnhumby, which has seen bidders withdraw and its potential price plummet in recent weeks. Instead it is said to be discussing the sale of its businesses in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. More
In New York, Ipsos Marketing has appointed Nagisa Manabe in the new role of Global President of the Path to Purchase & Shopper service line. More
Data driven CRM firm Merkle has promoted Mark Guenther and hired Alex Kooluris as Vice Presidents in its Retail & Consumer Goods practice. More
According to reports in the press, WPP is the last remaining bidder for Tesco's data business dunnhumby. More
In the US, grocery giant The Kroger Co. has added to the responsibilities of its CIO Chris Hjelm, naming him EVP and putting him in overall charge of its recently launched data division, 84.51 degrees. More
YouGov-owned sports and sponsorship specialist SMG Insight has appointed Richard Brinkman as Director of Strategy and Growth in the UK; Tracy Schoenadel as Senior Vice President, North America; and Joseph Eapen as Senior Vice President, India. More
In the US, former Greenfield Online CEO Dean Wiltse has become Chief Executive Officer of food traceability specialist FoodLogiQ. More
In the US, audience measurement specialist Rentrak has partnered with retail and healthcare data giant IRI, to expand the delivery of TV insights data. More
US-based direct marketing and targeting giant Harte Hanks has appointed Karen Puckett as its President and Chief Executive Officer, replacing former Synovate CEO Robert Philpott who left in July to 'pursue other interests'. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has hired IBM veteran Lori Gerber as Senior Vice President, Sales for North America. More
As part of a senior reshuffle, UK retailer John Lewis has promoted its Head of Marketing Craig Inglis to the role of Customer Director, with a seat on the Board. He retains responsibility for marketing and customer insight. More
In the UK, two major brands have underlined their focus on customer experience - British Airways with an appointment and Morrisons via an announcement by the CEO; while a third, publisher Trinity Mirror, has raised eyebrows with a new analytics-led business approach. More
Nearly two decades on from its US launch, Kantar Retail has rolled out its PoweRanking study in the UK. The study probes manufacturers' views of the major retail chains, and flags up key areas for performance improvement. More
A number of firms previously hoping to buy Tesco data firm dunnhumby have pulled out of the race amidst fears about future funding, according to a report broadcast on Sky News. More
Cross-Tab-owned emerging markets panel specialist Borderless Access has launched a behavioral profiling capability for its panelists across twenty countries, allowing it to target consumers on the basis of their brand usage and consumption patterns. More
In the UK, retail and healthcare data giant IRI has introduced a solution called Digital Active, to help FMCG marketers isolate and measure the effect of digital media spend on FMCG sales in-store. More
In the US, B2B media and information company Winsight, which specializes in the convenience retailing, restaurant and non-commercial foodservice industries, has acquired foodservice research firm Technomic. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has partnered with workforce management specialist Gigwalk to provide retail intelligence to CPG brands. More
Brand and comms research specialist Hall & Partners has announced the opening of an office in Dubai, led by Managing Director Ziad Skaff, who previously served as Regional Executive Director of Research and Insights at sister company Omnicom Media Group MENA. More
Tesco customer data business dunnhumby has set up a joint venture with Chinese supermarket chain China Resources Vanguard (CRV), through which the latter will provide the former with data from its shoppers and twenty million loyalty card users. More
Chicago-based advertising and pricing intelligence specialist Market Track has acquired Australia and New Zealand retail advertising tracker Commercially Retail. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, retail and healthcare data giant IRI has launched a point-of-sale (POS) tracking service for the 'on-premise' marketplace, which includes outlets where food and drink are consumed such as bars and restaurants. More
Brand tracking researcher Nepa UK has partnered with qualitative social media intelligence specialist Bakamo Social, promising their shared clients a holistic understanding of consumer behaviour. More
Former Nielsen SVP Kindra Tatarsky has joined in-store big data analytics specialist RetailNext in the new role of Head of Corporate Development, responsible for initiatives such as M&A, partnerships and investments. More
In India, retail big data specialist IntelligenceNODE has raised $4m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to expand to the US and hire more engineers / data scientists to build out its platform. More
WPP and it subsidiary Millward Brown (MB) have conducted their inaugural BrandZ brand equity study in Indonesia, uncovering the country's top 50 most valuable brands. More
US consumer data specialist Leapfrog has hired Scot Wheeler for the newly created role of Vice President, Consumer Intelligence and Business Analytics in its Consumer Journey practice, leading a team of analysts with a focus on consumer targeting. More
'Tis only a rumour at this stage, but an Indian online publication suggests that long-time rating agency and Nielsen / Kantar joint venture TAM Media Research is talking to new audience body BARC about a 'merger' - which considering their previous relations would be some turnaround. More
GfK has reported organic growth of just 0.3% in the first half of 2015. Reported sales climbed 7.1% to EUR 747.2m, but almost all this increase resulted from the weak Euro. Adjusted operating income rose 3.7% to EUR 71.2m, and CEO Matthias Hartmann sales should pick up in the second half. More
In Mumbai, MRSS India Ltd has announced four appointments: Ms Archana Pai as VP Custom Research (South), Anita Pathak as Manager, Mansi Mody as Senior Field Operations Manager and Pratyush Upadhyay as a Research Manager. More
GfK has acquired a Swedish software company, NORM Research & Consulting AB, whose core product simulates environments for virtual shopper research. More
German-based agricultural MR specialist Kleffmann Group has boosted its North American operations with the acquisition of US firm MarketSense, Inc., another agricultural research agency and a specialist in the animal health sector. More
Lower than expected earnings and difficulties financing a deal are pushing down the potential price of Tesco customer data business dunnhumby to around £700m, according to reports. Earlier rumours had talked the price up to around £2bn, and a large number of potential bidders have been involved. More
In South Africa, yearling 'microjobbing' platform M4JAM (Money for Jam) has acquired digital survey specialist Pondering Panda for an undisclosed amount. More
In New York, information solutions giant Experian Marketing Services has hired MR industry veteran Pasquale (Pat) Pellegrini for the newly created role of Chief Research Officer and General Manager. More
London-based consumer agency Firefish has expanded to South East Asia with the opening of a Singapore office. The venture will be led by former ABN Impact Director Angela Cross, while company Board Director Bob Cook becomes Regional MD to help kick-start the business. More
In the UK, retail and healthcare data giant IRI has appointed Stephen Lampard as Head of Convenience and Stuart Byron as Head of Impulse for its recently launched Convenience Market Place initiative. More
Israel-based software solutions firm Nice Systems has launched a new solution called 'NICE Journey VoC' which combines Voice of the Customer and journey mapping technologies to help clients reach customers who are at risk of defection. More
In the US, data collection and fieldwork services firm Opinions Ltd has opened a new facility in the Northeast Mall in Hurst, Texas - its 28th mall-based facility to date. More
Consumer data firm dunnhumby has upgraded its Behavioural Attitudinal Research (BAR) tool, to enable brands to measure themselves against their competitors based on chosen brand attributes. More
In the UK, full service agency Mustard has made four new appointments, and promoted Bethan Turner to Research Manager and Elizabeth Brierley to Senior Research Executive. More
In the US, e-mail analytics specialist Return Path has launched a new 'Consumer Insight' service, providing a detailed view of the spending patterns and brand loyalties of more than two million consumers. More
UK-based publishing, events and Business Intelligence group Informa has announced the sale of its Datamonitor Financial, Datamonitor Consumer, MarketLine and Verdict businesses to Progressive Digital Media Group for £25.0m in cash. More
Ipsos has reported half-year revenues up 10.2% in Euros to EUR 832.9m. Given that the Euro has lost around 20% of its value against the dollar and 10% against the pound in the last 12 months, this equates to a real-terms decline of -0.4%. Profit measures showed a slight improvement. More
Information solutions giant Experian has sold its retail intelligence business FootFall for £38.5m ($60m) to Tyco, a provider of retail performance and security solutions. More
Alibaba Group and Unilever China have announced a comprehensive strategic partnership giving the global consumer goods giant access to Alibaba's data-driven ecosystem to target customers across China. More
Potential buyers for Tesco's consumer data company dunnhumby will have to negotiate a new contract with the supermarket group within five years, according to reports from Sky News. More than half dunnhumby's current revenue comes from the deal with its parent. More
London-based customer retail specialist Perception Research Services has launched a new hybrid quant and qual methodology for evaluating e-commerce offerings. More
US-based marketing and communications specialist HCD Research has struck an agreement with sensory research specialist SENSANALYSIS, to co-develop and market products and services integrating neuroscience methods and qualitative 'multi-sensorial' research tools. More
Former Synovate CEO Robert Philpott has left his most recent role as Chief Executive Officer of direct marketing and targeting giant Harte Hanks, in order to 'pursue other interests'. The firm expects to incur a pre-tax severance charge of around $2.0m to $2.5m. More
Japanese research and online panel provider GMO Research has partnered with lifestyle and brand-focused loyalty card provider BCARD, adding more than three million Malaysian consumers to its platform. More
US-based customer experience measurement firm LRA Worldwide (LRA) has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by accountancy and consulting firm Deloitte. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has partnered with e-mail analytics specialist Return Path, to offer FMCG clients insights from eCommerce receipt and transaction data. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has appointed John Bremer as Senior Vice President, Research Science, to lead the team that designs, maintains and enhances its methodologies. More
UK-based RS Consulting, part of the Cello Group, has rebranded as Bright Blue. The new brand unites and replaces the four separate identities which have until now made up the RS Group - Consensus Research, Leapfrog, mruk and RS Consulting. More
Nielsen is to launch two new analytical services within its Buy consumer purchase data unit: Marketing ROI Snapshot and Revenue Management & Optimization (RMO). The company says the tools will help mid-sized businesses with marketing and sales effectiveness. More
Tim Mason, who as Chief Marketing Officer of Tesco introduced the firm's Clubcard, is working with private equity group BC Partners to join those bidding for the retailer's shopper data firm dunnhumby, according to a report by Sky News. More
Nielsen has launched a solution called the Design Navigator, which uses eye tracking technology to help marketers improve the effectiveness of package design. More
In the US, retail analytics specialist Euclid has launched a solution called EventIQ to measure the impact of in-store activities on traffic, customer behaviour and sales. More
According to reports in the press, dunnhumby founders Edwina Dunn and Clive Humby are 'considering involvement' in a bid to buy back the company from Tesco. More
In the US, shopper insights specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) has introduced a new approach to audience segmentation which uses purchase data to identify the most likely buyers of a CPG product, and target advertising to maximise sales. More
London-based research and planning agency ruby cha cha UK has been renamed kubi kalloo; and has moved into new offices in Shoreditch. More
Google is exploring the possibility of a joint bid for Tesco loyalty data firm dunnhumby, partnered by UK-based investment firm Permira, reports Sky News. More
Mark Pejic, the CEO of Australia's second largest media agency MediaCom has left after four years leading the WPP firm, which was recently embroiled in a controversy over faked campaign reports for three major clients. The departure adds to a number of key roles already vacant at the company. More
Ipsos' product testing wing ProductQuest has integrated the neuroscience technique known as Implicit Reaction Time (IRT) into its evaluations, to help clients probe consumers' non-conscious perceptions of their products. More
In the US, mobile data tools provider SessionM and MR firm Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) have announced a partnership giving access to a 'mobile-first' panel of more than twelve million consumers. More
In the UK John Browett, a former Tesco executive who also ran high street retailer Dixons, is in talks with private equity firm Apax Partners over a potential bid for dunnhumby, according to Sky News. Separately, the Sunday Times says US equity company Hellman & Friedman are also interested. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has become a major shareholder in European out-of-home (OOH) information provider GIRA Foodservice. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Full service agency MRSS India has appointed former P&G sensory scientist Swati Sawant as Vice President. More
The American Marketing Association has teamed up with research body CASRO to produce this year's AMA Gold Top 50 report, ranking US research suppliers. The report suggests total US research revenue for 192 surveyed firms grew in real terms by 1.6% in 2014. Four companies grew revenue by more than 40 percent. More
Marcoms group Creston has reported a 5% increase in annual revenue for its Communications & Insight businesses, to £56.2m. However, headline profits before interest fell slightly to £8.1m from £8.3m last year, due in part to the weakening Euro. More
Oxfordshire-based consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has appointed Doug Findlay and Jan Worsley as Directors in its EMEA team. More
UK-based youth research and marketing strategist Dubit has appointed children's media, play and learning insights specialist David Kleeman as Senior Vice President of Global Trends, based in its New York office. More
Tesco's price tag for analytics pioneer dunnhumby may be reduced from around £2bn to something like half that following the dissolution of the firm's JV with US supermarket chain Kroger a month ago, reports Sky News. More
Marcoms network MDC Partners and its digital strategy agency Doner have launched a specialist multicultural business called Cultura United Agency, offering full-service ad and PR expertise driven by insights across Hispanic, African American and Asian audiences. More
WPP has acquired a majority stake in London-based and data-driven sports marketing agency Two Circles Ltd, and will immediately incorporate it into ESP, a new global agency within GroupM serving rightsholders from the worlds of sports and entertainment. More
In the US, data-driven CRM agency Merkle has announced a strategic partnership with booming audience measurement specialist Rentrak, combining the former's consumer segmentation expertise with the latter's 'massive and passive' viewing data. More
GfK has reported first quarter sales of EUR 362.5m, an 8.2% rise of which 6.8% is the result of currency effects, and just 1.3% is organic growth. However, operating income and margins were up. More
In the US, retail and healthcare data giant IRI has appointed long-time P&G exec Joan Lewis as a Senior Advisor. More
In the US, sports entertainment media firm ESPN has announced plans for closer integration of its marketing, data, research and sales functions; and accordingly has added consumer marketing and research responsibility to the role of sales and marketing leader Ed Erhardt. More
According to a report in the Sunday Times, Nielsen is preparing to make a bid for Tesco-owned consumer data giant dunnhumby, which has been valued at up to £2 billion. More
Ipsos has appointed Millward Brown Vermeer founding partner Oscar Yuan as President of its insights-based brand and marketing advisory unit Strategy3. More
In Silicon Valley, USA, location-based marketing company Kiana Analytics has secured more than $1 million in venture capital financing. More
Paper-based packaging firm Smurfit Kappa has launched a service called 'Shelf Smart', to help retail clients improve product performance at the point-of-purchase. More
North of England-based agency DJS Research has launched Chatter Zone, an online market research community for parents, kids and teens. More
Vancouver-based research and brand consultancy The Sound has made four of its staff Partners in the business. More
UK-based companies Creston Group and Future Foundation have partnered to combine the former's market research and neuroscience services from its ICM Unlimited, Marketing Sciences Unlimited, and Walnut Unlimited companies, with the latter's consumer trends and insight offer. More
In Cincinatti, staff from dunnhumbyUSA, the joint venture between retail analytics pioneer dunnhumby and grocery giant The Kroger Co., are being moved into a new agency. To be known as 84.51°, this will be wholly owned by Kroger, will use dunnhumby's tools under licence, and will employ around 500 people. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has launched a suite of services to provide insights into the product innovation and development process - from product concept and testing to post-launch assessment. More
WPP has reported like-for-like first quarter revenue growth across all its business sectors except for the Data Investment Management (DIM) division, where revenue fell 1.4% to £558m from £566m in the prior year period. More
Ipsos has reported 0.8% organic growth in revenue for the first quarter of 2015 - though measured in Euros revenue was up 10.6% to EUR 379.6m. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has partnered with digital research specialist comScore and audience analysis firm Rentrak to launch a solution linking cross-media advertising to actual shopping behavior. More
Online research and marketing analytics firm MetrixLab has introduced a device agnostic package testing solution called COMPACT, allowing users to analyse packaging designs. More
Retail and healthcare data giant Information Resources Inc (IRI) has acquired Chinese MR and analytics services company Datasea, which focuses on the retail and CPG industries. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US consultancy Guidance is launching a Retail Strategy Solutions practice and has named eCommerce veteran Brian Beck to lead it. More
Marcoms giant Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired US-based full-service consumer insight firm Forbes Consulting Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
San Jose, CA-based in-store big data analytics specialist RetailNext has packaged up its solutions into a service called the 'Accelerator Kit', to help retailers better understand shoppers and shopping behavior. More
In the UK, consumer and sensory research specialist Product Perceptions has changed its name to PPL Insights. More
Retail data giant IRI has appointed former Hovis category exec Tim Dummer as UK Head of Grocery and Health & Beauty. More
Nielsen has announced a strategic alliance with RetailNext, which provides in-store analytics for bricks-and-mortar retailers. Nielsen becomes RetailNext's preferred channel for its service, which uses cameras and mobile tech to track shopper activities. More
GfK is planning to expand its point-of-sale (POS) pet retail outlet panel to Canada, targeting regional retailers and manufacturers across the category. More
Software and services provider NeoGrid has partnered with Nielsen to launch two new products for the Latin American supply chain market. More
The Boards of retail industry bodies POPAI (Point of Purchase Advertising International) and the Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) have voted in favour of a merger, aiming to provide better service for members. More
In the US, point-of-sale data giant Catalina has promoted Dak Liyanearachchi to the role of Chief Data Officer, overseeing its Insights and Analytics division and the use of its database of shopper purchase history for behavioral insight. More
Laurence (Larry) Gold, the former publisher of market research industry journal Inside Research, has died at the age of 80 after a battle with cancer. More
UK-based health and consumer marketing group Cello has reported a 9.9% rise in 2014 headline operating profit before tax to £81.0m, on revenues up 6.4% to £169.9m. The group has also appointed a new COO. More
Japanese-based online specialist Macromill has appointed IBM veteran Kuniko Ogawa as Chief Technology Officer and former General Electric exec Teruaki Kido as Chief Financial Officer. More
Swedish firm Generation Research, a pioneer in MR in the travel retail sector established in the late 1970s, has been acquired by financial advisor and consultant Fredrik Lindh. More
China-based brand consultancy Labbrand is expanding into Europe with the launch of an office in Paris. More
Research and technology provider Instantly has announced partnerships with location-based mobile advertising specialist xAd and Vistar Media, which it says will expand its Ad Effectiveness offering. More
Reports say WPP has now made a bid for a majority stake in retail data powerhouse dunnhumby, with current owner Tesco apparently keen to retain a minority share. Separately, the media giant's CEO Sir Martin Sorrell is said to be 'in line for a £36m bonus'. More
Kantar Worldpanel has increased the size of its panel in Saudi Arabia from 2,000 to 3,000 households. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has promoted Tim Bush to the role of Group President, Americas, while Dennis Brown moves into the newly created position of Group Operating Officer. More
In the US, Kantar Shopcom has teamed up with retail data giant IRI to create a portfolio of solutions for all-outlet, multi-channel media planning, targeting and measurement, based on a traceable view of more than 95% of total US consumer packaged goods spending. More
UK-based BDRC Group has reported a 17.8% increase in turnover to £24.5m for the twelve months ended 30th September 2014, compared with £20.8m the previous year. Gross profits climbed 19.4%. More
London-based online community specialist Verve has added Apple's iBeacon technology to its Community Panel app, allowing it to track individual members as they travel into and around stores fitted with the iBeacon device. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has elected Crispin Beale, CEO of Chime Insight and Engagement, and Danny Russell, UK General Manager of Business Intelligence at Telefonica, as its new joint Chairmen, replacing Richard Silman who took on the role last April. More
Oxfordshire-based consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has opened a new office in Mumbai, India and another in Durban, South Africa. More
Ipsos has reported a 2.2% increase in fourth quarter revenue to EUR 500.7m - a rise it describes as a 'timid return to growth' reflecting more favourable foreign exchange trends - and 'slight' organic growth of 0.8%. More
Cardlytics - whose technology tracks consumers' buying and rewards individuals according to their purchase behaviour - has moved its corporate headquarters to midtown Atlanta, following a recent $70m round of investment financing. More
Wealth intelligence specialist Wealth-X has acquired London-based MR consultancy Ledbury Research, which specialises in researching luxury brands and affluent consumers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
dunnhumbyUSA has made six promotions in its Cincinatti office. Molly Pearson becomes Client Lead; Chelsea Oliver an Analyst; Neil Pharris Analysis Manager; Tim Stoll a Senior Business Analyst; Katie Vogt Senior Client Lead; and Sarayu Sarangan Senior Data Developer. More
US research consultancy RDA Group has announced 2014 revenue of $23.8 million, up 14% year-on-year and up 60% over the last five years. More
Nielsen has reported Q4 revenue up 1.4% to $1.6 billion. Excluding the impact of the Arbitron and Harris Interactive acquisitions, the increase was just 0.1%. However the firm notes that this was its 34th consecutive quarter of revenue growth. More
LA-based research technology company Instantly (formerly known as uSamp) has introduced a new crowd-sourced insights tool called Product Watch, which alerts brands about newly launched consumer products and tracks their performance across key metrics nationwide. More
Kantar Worldpanel has launched an out-of-home (OoH) panel in China, to gather data about consumer purchasing and consumption of snacks and beverages across the country. More
Digital data collection specialist Research Now has launched a Gastrointestinal Panel, giving insights into the practices, treatments and sentiments of those with a variety of related disorders. More
In the UK, Sainsbury's veteran Kirstin Knight has joined Kantar Worldpanel, to manage the Grocery Retail division. More
US-based retail tracking provider The NPD Group has appointed Robby Hart as Head of Analytics and Modeling; Steve Thornberry as Senior Vice President of Solutions Consulting; and Jim Hirshfield as Senior Vice President of Solutions Architecture. More
GfK has reported a 2.9% drop in annual sales to EUR 1.451 billion from EUR 1.495 billion the previous year. Currency effects accounted for a 0.9% reduction: in organic terms, sales were down by 2.1%. More
Consumer product and media intelligence provider Mintel has opened an office in Munich, Germany. The new location will be led by Frank Weibelzahl, who has returned to the company after a stint at concept testing and forecasting software specialist Affinova. More
Sports marketing research group Repucom has commenced a restructure of its business operations in Europe, including the departure by mutual consent of President Europe Marcel Cordes. Meanwhile Alexandre Callay has joined as Global Director Media Research and Content. More
UK-based health and consumer marketing group Cello has reported 'strong trading' in an update for the year to 31st December 2014. The Health division reports double digit revenue growth and a strong business pipeline for 2015, while growth in the Signal consumer division is slower. More
Retail tracking specialist The NPD Group has expanded Michel Maury's role as Group President for Europe, to include management of its Asia Pacific operations; meanwhile former Ipsos exec Philippe Cabin Saint Marcel joins as General Manager of Commercial Activities for Europe. More
UK consumer specialist Incite has appointed former Millward Brown MD Jason Spencer as Managing Director of its latest office, in Shanghai, China. He will take up the post on 1st February. More
Chicago-based research and consulting firm Technomic has launched a suite of consumer research tools called Consumer4Sight (C4S), to understand consumers' decision-making behavior and interactions with the foodservice industry. More
In Cincinnati, retail analytics giant dunnhumbyUSA has appointed Michael Whynott as Senior Associate Custom Insights, and Liz Yauch as Associate Custom Insights. The firm has also promoted four members of the team. More
In the US, dunnhumby-owned price modeling and customer insight firm KSS Retail has introduced two features to help merchandising and category management teams integrate customer science and big data analytics into their pricing and promotions initiatives. More
Supermarket giant Tesco has confirmed it has appointed investment bank Goldman Sachs to explore options for its data analytics business dunnhumby - language which usually indicates a forthcoming sale. More
US-based marketing and communications specialist HCD Research is introducing its integrated cognitive and applied neuroscience market research services across China. More
WPP is preparing a bid for retail data giant dunnhumby, according to reports. Troubled current owner Tesco is said to be considering the sale of the Clubcard operator, valued by analysts at up to £2bn. Separately, WPP has invested $250m in new sports marketing firm Bruin. More
From all of us at MrWeb and Daily Research News to all of you, our readers and friends around the world, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for your support in 2014! More
US retailer Target Corporation is creating a 'center of excellence' to strengthen its data, analytics and business intelligence capabilities. The initiative will be led by Paritosh Desai in the new role of Senior Vice President, Enterprise Data, Analytics and Business Intelligence. More
Marcoms giant Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired Toronto-based digital creative firm SPOKE Agency, which offers a range of services for clients the in the lifestyle, retail and entertainment sectors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Stockholm, Sweden-based High Net Worth Individuals specialist Red Carpet Research (RCR) has launched an access panel, LuxuryOpinions.com, billed as the first of its kind in Europe. More
In Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University (QMU) has opened the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation, which will use a range of nutritional analysis, shelf life testing, consumer focus groups and taste panels to help businesses develop healthier products. More
London-based polling and research specialist ComRes has hired five new members of staff, including former Ipsos MORI exec Rob Melvill as Research Team Leader in charge of its FMCG and Food & Beverage practice. The firm has also promoted Tom Clarkston to Research Team Leader. More
In the UK, Tesco has promoted Robin Terrell to the position of Head of Customer, replacing Jill Easterbrook who is transferring to head the retailer's Business Transformation programme from 1st January. More
GfK has appointed former Nielsen exec James Llewellyn as UK Head of Shopper. More
UK-based mobile video MR specialist VoxPopMe has expanded to Singapore with the appointment of Robert Fry as Managing Director, Asia Pacific. The firm has also launched an app for iPhone, with an Android version available early in 2015. More
Ipsos has announced that its Co-President Jean-Marc Lech died this morning in Paris, after suffering from a 'serious health issue' since the summer. More
US discount retailer Target Corp. has acquired Pittsburgh-based Powered Analytics, which uses mobile technology, location data and machine learning to integrate retailers' apps with their in-store shopping experience. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Digital out-of-home advertising company MediaZest has launched a retail analytics product, using facial recognition technology to help retailers understand store dynamics and trading patterns, and improve service. More
MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has launched a new Sensory Science Centre in Singapore, with a panel of thirteen sensory assessors led by newly appointed Sensory Director Antonella Scarabelli. More
Online shopping comparison web site mySupermarket has introduced a service through which FMCG marketers can track the impact of their campaigns, product sales, and market share across all the main supermarkets in the UK. More
San Jose, CA-based in-store big data analytics specialist RetailNext has hired former IBM marketer Marc Dietz as Chief Marketing Officer. More
In the UK, dunnhumby co-founder Edwina Dunn has been appointed as a patron of the Market Research Society (MRS), joining husband Clive Humby. More
US-based consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has launched a new service called Checkout Tracking, which will provide information on consumer buying behaviour based on receipts for both online and in-store retail purchases. More
Customer data specialist dunnhumbyUSA has announced two senior hires and three promotions in its Cincinatti, Ohio office. Elizabeth Wagoner joins as Associate Director, Operations; and Allison Hoffman as Director, Client Leadership. More
GfK has launched a methodology called FutureWave, to help companies predict the potential future direction of their category and determine which new product or service benefits will appeal to their consumers. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has appointed Matt Powell as Vice President, Industry Analysis for Sports and Leisure Trends. More
Kantar Retail has invested an undisclosed sum in Paris-based image recognition tech company Planorama Group. More
In London, Kantar Media has appointed Alex Kuhnel as Chief Operating Officer of its TGI global online / off-line consumer behaviour and media consumption study. More
Doug Schorr has returned to his full service consumer research and strategic advisory agency Schorr Creative Solutions as Chief Insight Officer, after three years serving as Head of Consumer Research at in-home fitness and weight loss firm Beachbody. More
UK-based insights consultancy Simpson Carpenter has appointed Emily Hunt, former Director of Insights and SVP at Edelman Berland, as Head of Strategic Insights and Innovation - and a member of the Board. More
Nielsen has reported third quarter revenue of $1.57 bn, a 13.3% increase year-on-year but reduced to 2.5% once the effects of acquiring Harris and Arbitron are removed. Similarly, profits fell nearly 30% - to $91m - but adjusted EBITDA was up 19.8% to $477m. More
Search giant Google has expanded its Consumer Barometer, to provide additional insights into online shopper behaviour and digital media consumption. More
Ipsos has reported third quarter revenue of EUR 412.7m, representing marginal organic growth (0.2%) year-on-year. The decline in reported figures slowed to 1.4%. More
Retail data pioneer dunnhumby has launched BAR, a market research tool allowing users to identify customer segments using purchase data, then target surveys to them by means of the firm's Shopper Thoughts research panel. More
In the UK, marketing budgets were revised up for the eighth consecutive quarter, reflecting continued confidence in the business outlook, according to the Q3 2014 Bellwether report from ad association the IPA. More
GfK MRI has teamed up with modeling and analytics provider Santiago Solutions Group to launch a health and wellness-based segmentation and solution, SSG Wellness Spectrum. More
Millward Brown has appointed Philip Dickinson, formerly of Kraft Foods / Mondelçz International, as Group Head of its Food and Household client management team in the UK, based in Warwick. More
US company Directions Research, Inc. (DRI) has hired Betsy Sutherland as Senior Vice President of Client Service. More
Retail analytics firm dunnhumbyUSA has announced six further promotions, as it prepares to move into its new corporate headquarters in downtown Cincinnati. More
Film and television measurement specialist Rentrak is to acquire the US TV measurement business of WPP's Kantar Media for $98m in Rentrak common stock. WPP will then spend a further $56m to bring its overall share of the US-based firm to 16.7%. The deal gives WPP's GroupM agencies full access to Rentrak audience data. More
Sky News has reported that venture capital firm TPG has approached Tesco with a c.£2bn bid to buy its data gathering and analysis subsidiary dunnhumby, the firm behind the Clubcard loyalty scheme. More
In the US, business intelligence provider Mystery Researchers has acquired customer service measurement and mystery shopping specialist Beyond Hello - its second acquisition in two months. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based survey and panel management software firm Kinesis Survey Technologies has enhanced its offer to add survey research options for users of in-store 'beaconing' for smartphones. More
In the UK, ethnographic and customer journey research specialist Siamack Salari has launched a new smartphone app called Journey HQ, to provide insight into customers' natural decision-making and buying patterns. More
GfK has hired Nielsen veteran Shelly Berg as Senior Vice President in its Retail & Technology division's pet sales tracking business. She will be based in the San Francisco office. More
In the US, the Board of the Media Rating Council has voted to remove accreditation for Simmons Research's National Consumer Study (NCS), following an independent audit which uncovered 'declines in service performance metrics'. More
Consumer and sensory research specialist Product Perceptions has appointed former Marketing Sciences Board Director Andy Grout as a Consultant. More
Insight and marketing services group Cello has had what it describes as 'an excellent half year', with revenue up 9.4% to £78.3m, and a 14.8% rise in gross profits to £39.5m. More
Millward Brown has promoted Doreen Wang to the role of Global Head of BrandZ, its high profile brand equity measure. More
MR technology and services firm 20|20 Research has launched a virtual reality (VR) platform which simulates 'a multitude of consumer products and sensory experiences'. Participants don VR headsets to enter in-store environments or other locations such as restaurants, cruise ships, hotels or events. More
Paper-based packaging company Smurfit Kappa and eye tracking specialist EyeSee have partnered to launch a new online tool, through which brand owners can test and understand the impact of shelf-ready packaging (SRP) in a virtual store environment. More
Chicago-based 3-D virtual store research specialist InContext Solutions has opened an office in the UK, led by Alki Manias, with the title of Group Vice President Europe, Shopper & Retail Solutions. More
Tel Aviv-based algorithmic pricing and business intelligence platform Feedvisor has raised $6m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to further develop its service. More
In Chicago, web based 3-D virtual store research specialist InContext Solutions has received $12m in Series D funding, which it will use to fuel its expansion plans. More
Retail analytics giant dunnhumbyUSA says it will make the move to its new corporate headquarters in downtown Cincinnati in the first quarter of 2015. More
In the US, customer retention specialist Windsor Circle has raised $5.25m in a Series B round of financing, which it will use to extend its technology, launch into new verticals, and expand both its team and marketing efforts. More
Nielsen has promoted John Lewis to the role of Global President, in charge of its worldwide business in the FMCG vertical. Company veteran Karen Fichuk replaces him as President, North America. More
Retail analytics giant dunnhumby has acquired a 50% stake in consumer behaviour modelling firm Sandtable, and will create a joint venture through which to develop new ways of predicting and understanding consumer behaviour. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
WPP-owned brand development and insight consultancy Added Value has introduced a tracking tool called Activator, which it says delivers 'future focused' brand guidance to clients. More
GfK has reported a 1.6% organic decline in sales for the first half of 2014, to EUR 697.9m, magnified to 4.2% by currency effects - but says that it is now seeing the positive effects of the 'strategic realignment' plan it has been pursuing. More
Two announcements from Ipsos: the Loyalty division has a new syndicated study providing benchmark data on consumers' views across 23 sectors in 30 countries; while Canada's Ipsos Reid will work with the country's Sporting Goods Association (CSGA) to track trends in equipment, clothing and participation. More
Manchester, UK-based research agency Join the Dots has reported revenue growth of 16% in the first half of the year, compared with H1 2013. More
In Cold Spring, KY, USA, former Procter and Gamble exec Sarah Faulkner has launched her own consultancy providing insight-driven innovation and brand building services for consumer goods and services companies. More
San Jose, CA-based in-store big data analytics specialist RetailNext has completed a $30m round of financing, which it will use to expand operations in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and other, emerging markets. More
Nielsen has reported a 15% increase in second quarter 2014 revenue to $1.59bn - excluding acquisitions the figure was still a very respectable 4.4%. Q2 profit fell to $76m from $426m due to fees for re-financing long-term debt, but Adjusted EBITDA was up 16.2% to $460m. More
Ipsos' MediaCT division has launched an approach it calls PLSme!, to help media and content clients better understand audience behaviour, engagement and monetisation opportunities. More
In the US, shopper insight specialist Nielsen Catalina is planning to hire new sales people, analysts and consultants at its Vine Street headquarters in Cincinnati. More
Professional services firm Ernst & Young (EY) is to acquire Australian full service agency Sweeney Research. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Ipsos has reported a 5.9% drop in first half revenue to EUR 756m, with currency effects responsible for most of the fall (5.1%). In organic terms, second quarter decline all but wiped out the modest gains of the first quarter, giving overall H1 organic growth of 0.1%. More
The MRA's Research Industry Index study (RII) has maintained a score of 100 or higher for four straight quarters, for the first time since its launch in 2007. According to the MRA, this is a strong indication that the industry has recovered from the recession. More
Online research technology company uSamp has introduced a tool called Instant.ly Shelf Score, giving CPG manufacturers and retailers a measure of consumers' intent to purchase recently launched products. More
London-based retail consultancy Footfall Analytics has developed a service which uses CCTV to gather data about customer behaviour in bricks and mortar retail sites. More
Kantar Worldpanel has added to its new presence in Africa with the launch of a consumer panel in Egypt, covering both urban and rural areas and with the first data available in January 2015. More
London-based insight consultancy Firefish has revealed impressive revenue figures for the first year of operation of its US office - $1.9m - and says it will be further expanding its team 'in the coming months' to cope with demand. More
Manchester, UK-based agency Join the Dots has appointed Jane Dugdale, formerly of Colgate-Palmolive and Kimberly-Clark Europe, as a Research Director; and David Waring as an AD. Three other recent hires have also been announced. More
Nielsen has opened an office in Qingdao, in Eastern China, to support clients based in the coastal cities of eastern Shandong Province. More
Shopper research specialist PRS (Perception Research Services) has opened offices in Shanghai and Chicago. More
Nielsen has launched a tool called Omni Channel, integrating its own data with that of e-Commerce giant Alibaba to provide clients with a combined view of Chinese consumers' online and off-line buying behavior. More
The Futures Company has re-launched its US Yankelovich MONITOR, adding new content to provide what it describes as the first unified multicultural and general market consumer insight service in the marketplace. More
Brighton, UK-based global insight consultancy Space Doctors has appointed former Added Value semiotics specialist Cato Hunt to lead its London office. The firm has also announced plans to establish teams in Asia Pacific and the Americas. More
UK agency Trinity McQueen has appointed two former ICM execs in its London-based Retail team: Nathan Bartlett as Research Director, and Anna Johns as Research Manager. More
Bruce Shandler, a former President and CEO of North America for TNS and CEO of TNS Custom Research, has been named as the new President - CEO of Leger USA, based in Philadelphia. More
ITWP, the parent company of online community and survey technology provider Toluna, has acquired Harris Interactive's European arm from Nielsen. As part of the deal, Nielsen will take a minority share in ITWP. More
UK firm Product Perceptions has been acquired by one of its Directors, Yvonne Taylor. Founders Dominic Buck and Keith Greenhoff will retain a financial interest in the business following the buy-out, but have also set up a new firm called Sensometrica. More
TNS has launched an 'express' screening tool, to enable businesses to determine in less than 24 hours whether a new product idea will drive business growth. More
In Sydney, Australia, ethnography and qual specialist Charlie Cochrane has set up a new research consultancy called Jump the Fence, which he says will 'challenge the notion' that consumer psychology determines brand and buying motivation. More
UK-based agency business intelligence firm SPA Future Thinking has appointed Tom Meyritz, formerly of QuestBack, Lightspeed and Ciao, as Commercial Director, responsible for leading business development across all areas of the company. More
In the US Ingredion Incorporated, which provides ingredient solutions to a variety of industries, has launched three 'Idea Labs' innovation centers, focused on using consumer-centric methods to create 'innovative, profitable products'. Twenty-one other Labs are planned across the world this year. More
Nielsen has announced an enhanced version of its Homescan consumer purchase panel. Homescan Premium taps the company's proprietary platforms and methods 'to create a million plus consumer panel', and promises unique in-depth analysis of consumer purchase behavior. More
After announcing earlier this month its return to Scotland with the opening of a new office in the centre of Glasgow, social research firm mruk has appointed Alison Johnston as Research Manager and Neil Simpson as Research Consultant. More
Retail data giant Information Resources Inc. (IRI) has appointed P&G veteran José Carlos González-Hurtado as President of International, responsible for strategy and execution of all services across Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. More
Millward Brown has acquired global marketing strategy consultancy EffectiveBrands, and will merge it with its Optimor brand strategy division to form a new business called Millward Brown Vermeer. More
UK product development specialist Marketing Sciences has appointed former Tesco Head of Market Research Deborah Hall as an Associate Director in its Retail division. More
In the US, The NPD Group has promoted Steve Coffey from Chief Research Officer to the newly created position of Chief Innovation Officer. More
In Australia, marketing and sales services company Crossmark has launched Shopper Republic, a specialist shopper marketing division focused on global insights and 'deep retailer collaboration'. More
In the US, mystery shopping app provider Mobee has launched a retail intelligence dashboard, using crowdsourced data to help users assess their in-store product and marketing performance. More
Employee-owned MR provider Illuminas has reported a 27% revenue rise to £10m for the year ended February 2014. The firm has also appointed Steven Maskell as Senior Vice President in its New York office. More
UK-based Brass Insight has changed its name to Trinity McQueen, as part of a management buyout by its Joint MDs Anna Cliffe and Robin Horsfield. The rebrand will move it away from its former parent firm, marcoms agency Brass. More
In the US, consumer data management specialist Krux has raised $35m in Series B funding, which it will use to expand its global sales and support teams, and for research and development initiatives. More
Creston's insight division - which comprises Marketing Sciences and ICM - has reported a 7% increase in annual revenue to £12.9m. The remainder of the Group by contrast saw a slight decline in revenue and profit. More
UK potato supplier Greenvale has hired former dunnhumby exec Kate Wright for the newly created role of Category Insight Manager, with a remit to use insight to help the firm identify and prioritise opportunities for growth. More
Apple has hinted that its forthcoming iOS 8 operating system may make it impossible for analytics companies to track iPhone and iPad users in (real-world) retail stores. More
Nielsen is once again the 'official market research supplier' for an Olympic Games, adding Rio 2016 to London 2012 and Beijing 2008. More
Consumer products specialist MMR Research Worldwide has appointed Suzanne Hernandez as US Head of Business, based in New York and overseeing its Stateside strategy development and expansion. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has launched a Hong Kong panel, to strengthen its reach across the Asia Pacific region. More
Agricultural market research firm Kleffmann Group has appointed Dr Bob Fairclough as Team Leader of its recently established agricultural market trend information and consulting unit amis AgriGlobe. More
WPP-owned marcoms group Young & Rubicam (Y&R) has promoted Michael Sussman to the position of President of its research arm BAV Worldwide. More
UK-based Swift Research and Ireland's Amárach Research have joined forces to create a new research tool for food and drink producers. More
US-based online / off-line purchasing data firm Datalogix has closed a $45m round of funding, which it will use to finance the expansion of its suite of audience and measurement products. More
US marketing and communications specialist HCD Research has partnered with kids and families research, brand and product innovation firm PlayCollective, to provide a specialist service for clients targeting flavour and fragrance products at children and parents. More
Retail analytics specialist Askuity has closed a $1.8m seed round of funding from a group of investors including investment division dunnhumby Ventures. More
Online sampling and technology company uSamp has launched two new products - Mobile In-Home and Mobile In-Store - to allow real-time access to consumers in these two very different contexts. More
UK-based agency SPA Future Thinking has appointed Claudia Strauss, formerly Head of Insight at Burton's Biscuits Company, as Client Development Director. More
Mystery shopping and retail audit specialist Helion Research has opened an African regional HQ in Johannesburg, led by Customer Experience Agency founders Ian Jeffrey and Ronelle Van Rensburg. More
Cello-owned consumer specialist 2CV has relocated to new premises in Singapore, double the size of its previous office. More
Ditto Labs, which mines photos on social media sites to help brands understand target audiences, has raised $2.2m in new funding. More
GfK has announced results for the first quarter, with an organic decline of 0.7% in sales, reported as EUR 334.9m, a decline of 3.5% due to currency effects. However the Group said it achieved 'a significant increase in all profit indicators', and has confirmed its forecast for the year. More
UK agency Marketing Sciences has acquired consumer neuroscience consultancy Walnut Group. Walnut's founder Dr Cristina de Balanzó, a former global head of neuroscience for TNS, will join Marketing Sciences to strengthen its existing offer in the field. More
US researcher Michael Kassab has announced the launch of a new MR firm, ConsumerDNA, following the acquisition of the assets of Savitz Research Solutions, the firm he has led for sixteen of the last 30 years. Savitz' office in Richardson, Texas will form the headquarters of the new company. More
Kantar has completed its upgrade of the Indian MarketPulse consumer panel, first announced last year, and have rebranded it as Kantar Worldpanel. The panel is operated jointly by the Kantar Worldpanel division and sister agency IMRB International. More
Cheshire, UK-based agency DJS Research has announced its twelfth consecutive year of growth, with revenue up 32% to £2.9m. More
MR agency nQuire and Chinese mobile crowdsourcing company Weichaishi have launched their recently announced mobile panel under the name 'CrowdSurvey'; and published its first weekly report, 'China Buys'. More
Geo-location focused mobile marketing platform LiveDeal, which enables restaurants to publish real-time instant offers to nearby consumers, has acquired discounted retail products and services platform DealTicker. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo is opening an office in São Paulo, in September, to serve as a hub for research throughout Brazil and the wider Latam region. More
Walmart's technology innovation division @WalmartLabs has acquired ad tech and product data specialist Adchemy, bringing new expertise in areas such as semantic search, data analytics and marketing to its team. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has promoted Jim Kelley to the role of President of its newly combined Sports and Leisure Trends business. More
In the US, full service consumer product testing agency Q Research Solutions (QRS) has appointed four new members of staff at its Old Bridge, New Jersey office. Each has two decades or more of research experience. More
In the UK, youth brand and marketing specialist Steve Reece has launched a consumer research agency called Kids Brand Insight, offering qualitative research for the toy, gaming and children's entertainment sectors. More
Nielsen has reported a 12.9% rise in first quarter 2014 revenues to $1.49 billion, driven by 28% growth in its media research business following the acquisition of Arbitron. More
Research and brand intelligence specialist Digital Luxury Group (DLG) has acquired Luxury Society, an online community of more than 30,000 'luxury professionals' in 150 countries. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Food, drink and consumer goods specialist MMR is launching a DIY packaging research tool called Impackt Lite, via the online research 'app store' platform, ZappiStore. More
Ipsos has reported a 4.5% drop in revenue to EUR 343.3m in the first quarter of 2014, compared with EUR 359.6m a year previously. However organic growth - at constant scope and exchange rates - was 1.5%, in line with the performances recorded in the third and fourth quarters of 2013. More
UK insight and communications group Creston says it is expecting a drop in revenue to £74.8m for the year ended 31st March 2014, compared with £75.2m a year earlier. More
Six companies including researcher / analysts IRI and Rentrak have formed a consortium running a cross-industry study to drive thought leadership and best practice in marketing to Hispanics. More
Retail data giant IRI has formed a partnership with point-of-sale (POS) data specialist GuestMetrics, and acquired an undisclosed stake in the company. More
In the UK, Tesco has rolled out PriceStrat software created by US company KSS Retail, across the organisation, offering buyers and category planners analytical tools to help plan consumer offers and assess their likely impact. More
UK-based behavioural insights firm Beyond Analysis has appointed Sophie Neary as Group Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for taking the business from a consultancy-led to a product-focused enterprise with the launch of its new DIY 'Quick & Easy' insight platform. More
Paris-based mobile ad platform MobPartner has launched a new service to enable retailers to measure how mobile communications influence in-store sales and traffic. More
In Mumbai, full service agency MRSS India and Frankfurt-based Scent Analysis have formed a joint venture called SA#M, which will provide a multi-sensory research platform for projects in all areas of product and concept development. More
US-based hyper-local digital ad targeting specialist MaxPoint has established European headquarters in London, and appointed Jeanette Taylor as UK Country Manager. More
Retail analytics giant dunnhumby has confirmed it has acquired Berlin-based ad targeting and retail retargeting firm Sociomantic Labs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
London-based technology and design company Iconeme has launched a product called VM Beacon, which enables shop mannequins to transmit information to shoppers' smartphones about the clothes on display, and meanwhile collect data about these consumers. More
In the US, GfK MRI has launched a new set of 44 consumer segments based on its data on consumers' off-line activities and attitudes, for use in online ad targeting. The launch involves deals with three online data management platforms (DMPs), BlueKai, eXelate and Lotame. More
In the US, shopper insight specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions (NCS) has teamed up with Nielsen Audio (formerly Arbitron) to launch what the firms describe as the first single-source measurement approach built for the radio industry. More
St Louis-based Q&A specialist Answers Corporation has launched a product review platform called Shopper Ratings, to enable brands and retailers to tap into feedback from their customers. More
On Tuesday, renowned investigative psychologist Professor David Canter described how his commercial use of cluster analysis, combined with his development of what is now known as geographical offender profiling, led to the conviction of a serial murderer. Mel Crowther reports. More
Another Tuesday morning session looked at 'ideas for triggering commercial success'. Three clients described how they have addressed specific business issues with research-led solutions. Mel Crowther reports. More
Manchester-based consumer research agency Join the Dots has announced a 23% increase in annual revenue to £4.9m in 2013, driven by a mix of existing and new clients, and 35% growth in international revenues. More
In the UK, Creston-owned Marketing Sciences has appointed Dr Debbie Parker as Associate Director, in charge of its Sensory Profiling lab in Westerham, Kent. She replaces Angie Reyner, who has left the company. More
UK-based independent agency firefish has announced an annual revenue increase of 18%, to £9.55m in its full financial year 2014. More
Consumer specialist firefish has appointed former TLE exec Dee Campbell as Research Manager in its New York office, while in London Yimen Lee joins as Associate Director and Heather Williams as Research Manager. More
In the UK, the Market Research Benevolent Organisation (MRBA) is hosting its annual online charity auction, to raise funds for industry personnel who are in need of financial help. More
Retail analytics giant dunnhumby is reportedly close to buying Berlin-based ad targeting and retail retargeting firm Sociomantic Labs for an estimated $175 - 200m. More
GfK has merged its existing retail tracking and media business with full service agency PT Primera Indonesia, in order to offer its Consumer Experiences portfolio to clients across Southeast Asia. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
San Mateo, CA-based online retail analytics firm Reflektion has raised $8m in a Series B round of funding. Money will be used to roll out eCommerce and business intelligence solutions, while supporting existing clients and expanding sales and marketing activities. More
Retail data giant IRI has appointed former Nielsen France MD Olivier Humeau as Managing Director of IRI France, from 31st March. He will replace Philippe Cabin Saint Marcel, who left at the end of last year to become MD of Ipsos Marketing in the country. More
Boston-based investment company Berkshire Partners is to acquire majority control of point-of-sale data giant Catalina from Hellman & Friedman, which will remain a 'significant investor' in the firm. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Nielsen has announced that a group of its shareholders is planning to sell 30 million shares of common stock, with a possible value of around $1.4bn. More
In the US, marcoms agency Pavone has spun off its 'Food Trends' report into a separate food and beverage industry business called quench, focused on changes in consumer preferences, shopper marketing insights, and developments in technology and media consumption. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access has extended its coverage in Latin America with the launch of a new consumer panel in Chile. Seven more emerging markets are targeted for launch this year. More
WPP's Data Investment Management Division (DIM) has reported a 3.6% increase in annual revenue for 2013. More
Ipsos has reported a 4.3% decline in annual revenue to EUR 1.71bn, from EUR 1.79bn in 2012. The company blames the fall on exchange rates, its partial withdrawal from Eurozone countries like Greece and Portugal, and the sale of its Los Angeles-based film testing arm. Organic growth was 0.8%. More
Nielsen has acquired Madrid-based shopper marketing and sales intelligence specialist Nexium Customer Solutions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Canadian firm Leger Metrics has partnered with Dublin-based Red C Research, in order to extend its reach to Europe. More
UK-based research firm SPA Future Thinking has introduced a new brand performance tracking tool called BrandBox, which includes a measure of the influence of 'Connectors' or advocates. More
In Chicago, Marla Commons has returned to consumer product and media intelligence provider Mintel as Vice President of Research, in charge of the US Consumer Research and Insight teams. More
US-based online community specialist Passenger has expanded to China through a partnership with Asia Market Development (AMD). More
Retail data giant IRI and foodservice industry consultant Technomic have announced a new joint offering, Restaurant to Retail (R2R) Insights, which combines consumers' retail point-of-sale (POS) data with their habits eating at major chain restaurants. More
Stockholm-based brand tracking specialist Nepa has opened a subsidiary company in Helsinki, and appointed Minna Mehtälä to lead it. More
Nielsen has reported a 5.5% increase in annual revenue to $5.7 billion. Media measurement arm 'Watch', enlarged by the Arbitron buy, saw revenue rise 11.2%, compared with 1.9% growth in the consumer research 'Buy' division. More
UK-based footfall counting and analysis specialist Ipsos Retail Performance has opened an office in Toronto, Canada, with the aim of servicing retailers across North America. More
Mobile data and analytics platform GroundCntrl has launched a new service called SmartCheck, to provide retailers and brands with a way to acquire real-time, in-store intelligence about their products, promotions, and competitors. More
GfK's sales have dipped back below the EUR 1.5 billion mark, not helped by a strengthening of the currency: the 2013 figure fell by 1.3%, from EUR 1.514bn in 2012 to EUR 1.495bn in 2013 despite modest organic growth of 0.8%. Adjusted operating income crept up by 1.5% to EUR 190m. More
Former Campbell Soup shopper strategist Russ Onish has joined virtual shopping research specialist Decision Insight to lead its Client Solutions team. More
WPP company tenthavenue has acquired a majority stake in South African mobile activation firm Jupicorp Proprietary Ltd (trading as TMARC), which offers a consumer profiling, segmentation and targeting tool. More
UK-based research firm SPA Future Thinking has launched a new study called 'The Grocery Eye', to help identify product purchasing perceptions across a number of FMCG categories. More
Insight and marketing group Cello has recorded double-digit 2013 revenue growth in its Health and Consumer divisions, according to a trading update. More
Consumer product and media intelligence provider Mintel has expanded to Poland, appointing former Euromonitor execs Honorata Jarocka and Regina Maiseviciute as Analysts in its Global Food and Drink Analyst team. More
In the US, research and consulting firm The Marketing Workshop (MW) has appointed client side FMCG research veteran Kelly Mayer as Senior Account Manager, to lead a team of researchers. More
US marketing and communications specialist HCD Research has opened a Flavor and Fragrance market research division, which will combine neuroscience tools with traditional methods to provide a view of both respondents' subconscious and cognitive response to stimuli. More
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) and SPINS LLC have expanded their existing relationship to provide enhanced data and solutions for the natural / organic and specialty products market. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston Plc has announced the retirement of CEO and founder Don Elgie, with effect from 31st March 2014. Elgie will 'pursue a career of non-executive roles', and will be succeeded by current COO and CFO Barrie Brien, who has been with the Group since 2004. More
US shopper analytics specialist Euclid has introduced a free self-service version of its customer analytics platform, which can deliver data from all bricks and mortar locations. More
Big data customer insights provider Symphony EYC has introduced a new category planning platform called 'Insights 2 Execution', allowing retailers and CPG manufacturers to make assortment decisions based on customer behavior and segmentation, aligned with physical store constraints. More
Retail intelligence technology firm Cogenta has launched a multi-national version of its pricing app, to enable international retailers, manufacturers, brand managers and researchers to monitor consumer goods pricing data in 23 countries around the globe. More
Mobile advertising specialist YP has acquired Sense Networks, which uses location and behavioral data to deliver targeted mobile ads. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Dominique Shu has joined Houston, Texas-based marketing agency Unleaded Communications as Market Research Director. She joins from consulting firm Decision Strategies where she was Principal of Market Intelligence. More
Peter Rigby has retired as London-based business information and events group Informa Plc - whose subsidiaries include research firm Datamonitor - to be replaced by Stephen A. Carter. Group Finance Director Adam Walker has also left the company with effect 31st December. More
Location-based behavioral intelligence firm Brickstream has introduced an in-store analytics solution, which combines 3D customer behavior analytics, a high resolution video camera, and wireless-based proximity data analytics within a single platform. More
In the US, retailer-owned wholesale grocery co-operative Unified Grocers has launched a scheme to help its retail partners better understand how and why customers make choices, including their purchasing decisions and shopping patterns. More
WPP-owned Kantar is to combine the resources of Kantar Retail with its TNS Retailer & Shopper practice, to form a new organisation offering a single source of retail and shopper expertise. More
US market research firm Opinion Corp has added a polling service to its consumer dissatisfaction web site, offering businesses feedback from unhappy customers, and journalists a means of measuring consumer sentiment for their articles. More
UK-based insight and communications group Creston plc has announced that Keith Bates is to step down from the role of Head of Creston Insight, seeking 'new challenges' outside the Group. More
WPP research and ad agencies Millward Brown and Ogilvy & Mather have partnered to launch a syndicated tool called The Brand Cross-Cultural Index (BCCI), designed to help understand a brand's value across racial or ethnic segments. More
Private investment firm Bain Capital Partners has made an offer of 51.4 billion yen ($501m) to buy all the shares of Tokyo-based online research firm Macromill. More
Brand tracking and advanced analytics agency Nepa has promoted Research Manager Gabi Clark to the role of Head of Insight for the UK. More
Ipsos has reached an agreement with WPP-owned behavioural targeting services firm I-Behavior, Inc. to help marketers manage and assess campaigns among affluent US consumers. More
Former OECD Ambassador Karen Kornbluh has joined Nielsen as Executive Vice President of External Affairs, leading the firm's government and public affairs services, and overseeing privacy strategy, corporate social responsibility and multicultural market development. More
In-store analytics specialist RetailNext has acquired San Mateo, California-based Nearbuy Systems, which provides location-based Wi-Fi Analytics solutions for retailers. More
Retail data giant Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has formed an agreement with Japanese research no.1 INTAGE, giving the former's clients access to Japanese POS data and the latter use of IRI's data and services from other markets. More
UK-based Marketing Sciences has hired Andy Grout, former European Head of Quantitative Research at The Leading Edge, as a board member; and has also promoted Laura Ablett to its board. The company also reports strong first-half results. More
Qual specialist The Sound Research has hired four new members for its global team, based in offices in Canada, the US and the UK. More
Swiss company Sportradar, which specialises in content and information for the sports and betting sector, has acquired US-based statistics and research provider SportsData for an undisclosed sum. More
WPP brand development and insight consultancy Added Value has appointed Kenneth Lee as Managing Director for China. More
Former Millward Brown Ireland CEO Richard Waring has joined customer satisfaction and mystery shopping firm Catalyst Marketing Research as a Partner and Director. More
Hard to believe, but on Friday 29th November, DRNO's publisher MrWeb is celebrating 15 years in business. More
WPP-owned marcoms network Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) has opened a 'Marketing Analytics Centre of Excellence' in Singapore, which it says will turn Pan-Asian consumer insights into customised, targeted and measurable marketing strategies. More
GfK has appointed Craig Griffin as Managing Director for the Consumer Choices division at its office in Thailand. More
Three analytics and insight providers - Martini, Acxiom and Ipsos Mendelsohn - have partnered to provide information about the media habits and lifestyles of affluent households in the US. More
Big data customer insights provider Symphony EYC has launched a loyalty campaign management and analytics platform called Engage, to help retailers identify and target their most valuable customers. More
GfK has reported a 4% drop in sales to EUR 361.4m during the third quarter 2013, from EUR 376.7m in Q3 2012, driven by what the firm describes as the 'considerable impact' of negative currency exchange effects. Like-for-like, sales were down by around 1.5%. More
Helsinki-based in-store behaviour analyst Walkbase has raised EUR 3m in a Series A round of funding, which it will use to strengthen its sales, marketing and customer insights teams. More
Sports broadcast measurement specialist Repucom has acquired Italian sports research agency Immagine & Sport for an undisclosed sum. More
Cardlytics - which offers technology to track consumer purchases and reward individuals according to their purchasing behavior - has opened a base in Manhattan and begun building a team there to support its agency clients. More
Singapore agency Agility Research & Strategy has launched a do-it-yourself online survey platform giving marketers access to more than seventeen million affluent and luxury goods consumers in thirteen markets around the world. More
Manchester-based consumer research agency Join the Dots has moved to a new head office in the city, reporting £1 million of new client business and 20% growth in 2013. More
Bangalore-based Manthan Systems has unveiled its new retail analytics solution, ARC Mobile, which covers operations, merchandising, marketing and financial data. More
Online MR software company Confirmit has launched its 'Channel and Trade Audit' solution, to enable consumer goods companies to obtain insights about their business, markets and competitors, while also anticipating evolving market trends. More
In the UK, Ipsos Retail Performance has introduced new facial analysis technology called 'Shopper Profile', promising retailers a better understanding of the demographics and behaviour of their customers. More
Millward Brown Digital has introduced a suite of behavior-based mobile intelligence solutions, to provide new insights on how people use their mobile devices while shopping. More
In the US, a group of in-store tracking technology firms have agreed to abide by a 'code of conduct' which will ensure that consumers are given the opportunity to opt out before stores can track their movement via their mobile devices. More
Nielsen has reported a 2.7% increase in third quarter revenue to $1.39 billion, the result of a 2.2% rise in the 'Buy' consumer research arm to $871m, and a 3.4% rise in the 'Watch' media research arm to $516m. More
In the US, retail data giant IRI and health and wellness consumer insights agency SPINS have introduced a segmentation model called SPINS NaturalLink, which focuses on how shoppers think about, purchase and use natural, organic and eco-friendly products. More
US retail analytics provider Prism Skylabs has secured a $15m Series B round of funding, which it says it will use to drive continued adoption of its products. More
Mobile-focused retail market research provider InfoScout has raised $5m in a Series A round of funding from dunnhumby Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures and Founder Collective. The company has also launched the public beta of its 'freemium' consumer shopping analytics service. More
YouGov's Middle Eastern subsidiary has expanded its team in Dubai with five new staff, including Ali Draycott who joins as Commercial Director MENA. Also joining are quallies Milos Bugarcic and Hend Abdel Sattar, and quant researchers Isaac Thiga and Nidhi Sharma. More
Chicago-based full service consumer insights agency C+R Research has appointed client side researcher Terrie Wendricks to head its Shopper Insights division ShopperEyes. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group is to acquire the retail sales tracking and consumer research business of Boulder, Colorado-based sports and recreation researcher Leisure Trends. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
WPP firms Kantar Worldpanel and IMRB have formed a partnership to run a joint consumer panel service across India, providing insight on purchasing habits across a broad range of products. More
Tokyo-based Research Panel Asia (RPA) has launched a panel in Taiwan, for which it aims to recruit 100,000 people in the coming months. More
Data-driven marketing group Merkle has appointed former Accenture consultant Mike Mojica as SVP and General Manager of it Retail and Consumer Goods practice. More
In the US, consumer research and analytics firm Blueocean Market Intelligence has launched an event-based retail intelligence solution, to provide analysis of major seasonal shopping events. More
San Francisco-based retail intelligence specialist Quri has raised $10m in a Series B round of funding, which it plans to use to meet growing demand for its in-store analytics. More
UK-based research consultancy Incite has announced a number of appointments in its recently opened New York and Singapore offices. More
Baltimore, USA-based natural and organic products specialist New Hope Natural Media has launched NEXT, a suite of data and analytics tools which build on its understanding of consumer behavior and product innovation in the sector. More
Deerfield, Illinois-based print and online media company Stagnito Media has acquired Carbonview Research, which provides custom primary market research and analysis for CPG manufacturers, retailers and agencies. More
DVR and TV viewing data pioneer TiVo Research and Analytics, Inc. (TRA) has extended its two-year relationship with dunnhumbyUSA, signing an exclusive partnership agreement further integrating the firms' grocery purchasing and television audience data. More
US-based full-service agency Target Research Group, Inc. has released details of its recent buyout by its own employees, led by new CEO Greg Spagna. More
Retail analytics giant dunnhumby has launched a seed-stage investment fund, dunnhumby Ventures, focusing on innovations in retail technology. The fund will support those 'embracing data for innovations along the consumer's path to purchase'. More
US-based in-store analytics firm ShopperTrak Corporation has appointed Bill McCarthy, previously CTO at the company's Chicago headquarters, as CEO of its EMEA operations. Current EMEA head Todd Starcevich returns to Chicago for the newly created role of head of the global mall division. More
Global MR industry turnover grew by 3.2% to $39.1 billion in 2012, according to ESOMAR's latest Global Market Research Report. During the year, strong performance was seen in Asia Pacific, Africa and Latin America, countering 'sluggish' performances elsewhere. More
David Jones, a former Head of Communications at First Direct, has launched a new UK-based market research agency called Habit5, which will focus on providing mutual understanding between brands and their customers. More
Former Nielsen colleagues Jeff Stewart and Christophe Cazes have launched a new firm called Asia Market Development (AMD), offering alternative approaches to the larger global firms which they say offer 'inflexible solutions' not designed for the Asian market. More
Marcoms group STW has acquired a majority stake in Colmar Brunton Australia, the country's largest independently owned market research agency. The amount of the investment was not disclosed. More
India-based MR technology and operations company Annik has launched a solution called 'Rapid Insights' to enable retailers to gather and respond to in-store customer feedback in real-time. More
Canadian polling firm Leger has acquired healthcare and consumer insights specialist IFOP North America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
European consumer and luxury goods research specialist Stratégir has appointed Jackie Tarran as Managing Director in its UK office, replacing Dorte Torpe Hansen, who is moving into the role of International Business Development Director. More
Anna Noonan, formerly Qualitative Field Manager at ICM Direct, has launched her own face-to-face field agency called Strawberry Field, named after the London suburb where she lives. More
Retail data giant Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has acquired Aegis-owned retail information and scan-data business Aztec for an undisclosed sum. More
In Africa, Kantar has teamed up with fellow WPP agency TNS RMS to form a joint consumer panel, for use in shopper and product research studies. More
Netherlands-based agency SKIM has expanded to Latin America with the opening of new offices in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and San José, Costa Rica. More
Retail data giant Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has named Hoyoung Pak Executive Vice President of Global Operations and Data Science. More
Location analytics specialist Placed has introduced a solution to measure the impact of mobile advertising on in-store visits. More
GfK has announced organic revenue growth of 1.7% in the first half of 2013, with sales totalling EUR 728.6m, and a 'particularly profitable' Q2, with adjusted operating income up 15.7 percent. More
WPP is increasing its stake in Kenya-based marketing services firm Scangroup Limited, JV partner of its subsidiary Millward Brown, and will now hold a majority (50.1 percent of shares). More
Cincinnati-based custom researcher StrataMark Dynamic Solutions has hired Dr. Michael Cook, former Head of Consumer Understanding at flavours and fragrances giant Givaudan, as SVP, Consulting & Insights. More
The world's 25 largest research firms reported a 'better than expected' 2012, thanks in large part to syndicated services and global acquisitions, according to industry authority Jack Honomichl. More
Social media analytics firm Starcount has acquired H&D Ventures, the company set up by Tesco Clubcard creators Edwina Dunn and Clive Humby, for an undisclosed sum. More
London-based full service agency IFF Research has launched a Health & Wellbeing (H&W) division, to provide a range of services from patient satisfaction tracking surveys and health and lifestyle studies, to more niche studies involving hard-to-reach audiences. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has extended its International Box Office Essentials service to China, where it will report daily theatre-level information for what it describes as the world's fastest-growing movie market. More
In India, WPP-owned IMRB has expanded its household consumer panel to reflect changes taking place across the country. More
Retail data giant Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has announced a deal with cloud-based predictive analytics software company Applied Predictive Technologies (APT), adding the former's POS data into the latter's Test & Learn software suite. More
In the UK, retail data specialist dunnhumby is planning to relocate 1,000 staff from its two Ealing offices to a newly refurbished, 115,000 sq ft building in Hammersmith, in 2016. More
Chicago-based full service agency Peryam & Kroll Research (P&K) has promoted Richard Popper to the position of Chief Executive Officer, replacing Beverley Kroll, who will continue in the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors. Eric Maddux meanwhile becomes President. More
Following a 2.7% fall in first quarter revenue, Ipsos has reported a 0.4% rise in its second quarter figures. However, negative currency effects meant that total first half 2013 revenues fell by 4% to EUR 803.7m. More
Loyalty management specialist Aimia, which owns the Nectar loyalty card program, has acquired US-based customer loyalty marketing platform Smart Button in a cash deal valued at $18m. More
UK company Shopper Retail Insight (SRI) has developed a new service based on football player performance analytics, in order to deliver an improved understanding of in-store shopper behaviour. More
Ipsos has filed a lawsuit in London's High Court against Aegis, claiming that the marcoms giant failed to disclose tax and fraud probes at Synovate, before it sold the company for £525m ($792m). As a result, Ipsos is seeking up to £65.8m ($100m) in compensation from Aegis. More
Ipsos Retail Performance has launched a new Shopper Insights suite which it says will enable managers and other store staff to understand and interpret both their traffic and transactional data. More
In the US, retail data giant IRI has bought FreshLook Marketing Group, which supplies market research, information, and consulting services to the fresh food industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Tokyo-based panel operator AIP Corporation has opened an office in Jakarta, Indonesia, and made an unspecified investment in local MR firm Pixel Research to enhance its market knowledge and services in the country. More
Food, drink and consumer goods specialist MMR Research Worldwide has appointed eight new members of staff, including Mario da Cruz as Head of MMR USA in New York and Andrew Kuiler as Managing Director of MMR China in Shanghai. More
While turnover in the UK market research industry is still 'fragile', the sector has reported a slower decline in the past twelve months according to research conducted by the Market Research Society (MRS). A majority of firms expect growth in 2013. More
UK-based consumer and cultural insight agency Flamingo is opening a sixth international office next month in Mumbai, adding to bases in London, New York, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. More
Retails analytics firm Ugam Solutions has announced four appointments, aimed at 'significantly enhancing capabilities to provide clients with smarter and sharper analytical solutions.' The four are Sudhir Holla, Navin Dhananjaya, Sridhar Sharma and Vinayak Hegde. More
In New York, Ipsos has appointed Stephane Goldsand and Jasper Snyder as Vice Presidents in its Strategy Partner Group. More
Global media agency MEC has launched a proprietary approach called Momentum, designed to understand and quantify how consumers make purchasing decisions. More
In the US, retail data specialist dunnhumby has acquired machine learning and advanced analytics specialist Standard Analytics LLC (SA), as it looks to expand its own technology portfolio. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Analysis conducted by industry authority Jack Honomichl points to a 'weak downward trend' in the research sector in 2012. A total of $9.5 billion was spent in the US on the sector, which is defined as including marketing, advertising and public opinion research services. More
Lakewood, CO-based qualitative and sensory testing specialist Ingather Research has opened new facilities in downtown Denver. More
Consumer research and analytics firm Blueocean Market Intelligence has expanded its North American team with the appointment of three industry veterans as Vice Presidents - Client Development, while also opening offices in Chicago, Dallas and Cincinnati. More
Full service agency MRSS India has appointed former TNS India VP Kalyan Karmakar as Advisor Consumer Insights, providing support to the firm's digital, automotive, financial services and FMCG clients. More
Retail giant Walmart has announced that its technology innovation division [at]WalmartLabs has acquired predictive intelligence start-up Inkiru, in order to ramp up its analytics capabilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Australian consultancy InfoReady has launched a Marketing Intelligence practice, specialising in multi-channel marketing and analytics, and appointed James Forbes to establish and lead it. More
UK consultancy Brand Potential has appointed Ferrero's former Head of Insight Susie Gaunt as Client Director - Insight & Strategy. More
UK-based consumer agency Firefish has appointed former Flamingo director Liz Seok as Group Qualitative Director. More
US shopper analytics specialist Euclid has appointed ShopperTrak co-founder Tad Shepperd as Senior Vice President, responsible for driving sales and overseeing New York-based teams of sales execs, client services managers and analysts. More
US agency Forbes Consulting Group has launched a DIY version of its MindSight applied neuroscience technology, offering quick, low cost insights into the subconscious emotions that motivate consumers to buy. More
Ipsos Marketing has appointed Sophie Goddard to lead its partnership with Bounty, the UK pregnancy, baby and parenting club. More
US-based footfall analyst ShopperTrak has acquired retail data and analytics firm RapidBlue Solutions Oy, based in Helsinki. More
Former Molson Coors MD of Brands Chris McDonough has joined Asda as Marketing Director, as the Walmart-owned UK retail giant restructures its marketing department. More
Ipsos MarketQuest has unveiled the 'next generation' of its suite of brand growth solutions, Censydiam, which it says helps users to identify and prioritise category and cross category opportunities for growth, analyse brand choice and measure brand equity. More
MMR Research Worldwide has launched a real-time, point-of-purchase survey app called MyDiaLog, which allows users to share videos, pictures and audio clips recorded on their smartphones. More
Cambiar, the management consultancy dedicated to the MR and analytics industry, has appointed General Mills veteran Russ Rubin as an Associate in its Research Impact Practice. More
April Jeffries has been promoted to the role of President of Ipsos UU, Ipsos Marketing's qualitative research arm in the US. She is based in the firm's office in Mahwah, NJ. More
Millward Brown has appointed Travyn Rhall as Global CEO, succeeding Eileen Campbell who is stepping down in mid-July for personal reasons. More
US firm Civicom Marketing Research Services has launched a mobile app through which consumers can 'dial in' and record their thoughts while out shopping. More
Retail and healthcare data giant IRI has partnered with health and wellness consumer insights agency SPINS, to create a new segmentation offer in the natural/organic sector. More
Marcoms group Chime Communications has acquired London-based shopper marketing agency WARL from its shareholders Marcus Wilcox, Kerry Bateman and Brian Lloyd, for an initial consideration of £4.5m. Chime has also acquired Shanghai sports marcoms agency People Marketing. More
GfK has issued an ad hoc statement on preliminary figures for the first quarter, showing organic sales growth of only 0.6 percent, and adjusted operating income and margin down on Q1 2012. However the global group says order levels are good and it should meet annual forecasts of 3-4 percent sales growth. More
Singapore-based consultancy TapestryWorks has announced the launch of BehaviourWorks, a new framework for evaluating shopper behaviour for point-of-sale, web site design and promotional materials, building on advances in neuroscience and behavioural economics. More
Minneapolis-based custom qual provider Gordon Weiss Research has rebranded as Sivo Insights with immediate effect. More
Singapore-based YFind, which helps brick-and-mortar retailers track and analyze movement in any indoor or urban environment, has launched a shopper analytics dashboard called TheRetailHQ, which pinpoints shoppers' specific locations inside a store. More
In Australia, supermarket giant Woolworths has taken a 50% non-controlling stake in customer data analytics firm Quantium, which in return will gain access to Woolworth's customer data and provide insights to the retailer's packaged goods suppliers. More
Boston, MA-based company SessionM has added a survey feature, 'Consumer Polls', to its mobile loyalty and monetization platform, to enable advertisers and developers to launch in-app polls across millions of mobile users. More
In the US, RetailNext has completed a $15m Series C round of financing, which it will use to expand its engineering team, deliver new detection and predictive analytics capabilities, and grow its operations in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. More
Havas Media Group has acquired London-based marketing insights consultancy SCB Partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based online / off-line purchasing data firm Datalogix has closed a $25m Series B round of funding, and says it will help to accelerate the adoption of its audience and measurement solutions across display, mobile, video, social media and search channels. More
UK-based online specialist BrainJuicer has introduced a new methodology called 'The System 1 Pack Test', which imitates the real-time shopping experience by asking people to make a selection from the shelf while under time-pressured conditions. More
Maritz Research has expanded into the food service industry through the launch of 'Capella Restaurant', a mobile survey tool designed to capture feedback about diners' experiences. More
In the US, Silicon Valley-based social media intelligence platform Swipp has raised $2m in investment funding, while also launching a product called Swipp Plus to provide real-time customer insight around products, brands and offers. More
Customer analytics specialist dunnhumbyUSA, the joint venture between The Kroger Company and London-based dunnhumby, has announced six promotions to Vice President: Brian Higdon, Dawn Valandingham, Megan Moglia, Sean Hannon, Susan Visconte and Dawn Shirley. More
In the UK, shopper and leisure sector research consultancy Touchstone Partners has appointed former Johnson & Jonson director Sarah Lacey as Head of its Shopper Consultancy division. More
In the US, the company known for the last three years as SymphonyIRI is now once again just IRI (Information Resources Inc.). More
Online specialist BrainJuicer has appointed former PepsiCo shopper insights exec Will Leach as Vice President of its methodological unit Behavioral Labs in Texas. More
US-based consumer intelligence specialist The NPD Group is launching what it describes as 'the foodservice industry's first monthly sales tracking service with broad distributor coverage'. 'SupplyTrack' will cover all products shipped from major distributors representing 70% of the broadline market. More
Retail and healthcare specialist SymphonyIRI has added the title of Chief Client Strategy Officer to former P&G exec Beverly Grant's existing role as President of Retail Solutions. More
Full service online research agency mo'web has launched a new consumer panel in Turkey, while also announcing plans to expand into the country's B2B market. More
UK-based consumer insight and strategic consulting firm The Future Foundation has expanded to the US with the opening of an office in New York, where it has relocated Heather Corker in the role of VP, Consumer Trends, North America. More
eBay has hired Zoher Karu, formerly VP of Marketing Analytics at Sears, for the new position of Vice President, Customer Optimization & Data, tasked with using analytics to target customers. More
Shopper marketing specialists Jim Cusson and Jared Meisel have set up a new agency called Theory House in Charlotte, North Carolina. More
WPP's media investment management group GroupM has expanded its line-up of multicultural insights services and brought them together in one until called GroupM Multicultural, led by Hispanic media specialist Gonzalo Del Fa. More
UK consumer specialist Incite has launched a dedicated Behaviour Change practice, which will use multiple disciplines - including behavioural economics, neuroscience, health psychology and CRM - to help brands influence the behaviour of consumers. More
GfK has fully integrated its custom research division GfK Blue Moon into its global structure, and renamed it GfK Australia, Consumer Experiences. More
Custom research firm TLE (formerly The Leading Edge) has appointed shopper research specialist Karen Sandrault as Director of Strategy at its Sao Paolo office. More
Shopper feedback specialist Shopbust has launched a mobile version of its mystery shopping platform, to enable clients to carry out 'fast turnaround' store audits and spot checks and report back to their businesses via their mobile phones. More
Online research and polling firm YouGov has reported strong results for the 6 months ending January 31st, the first half of its financial year, with like-for-like revenue growth of 5% and adjusted profit before tax up by 16% to £2.6m. More
London-based Realeyes, which measures facial expressions and quantifies people's emotional reactions through standard video devices such as webcams and in-store cameras, has completed a $3.2m round of investment. More
US customer intelligence provider Market Force Information has sold its general merchandising and in-store audit services to retail merchandising specialist The SPAR Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Restaurant branding agency Bellwether Food Group has merged with sector-specific market research agency Restaurant Insights, in order to provide a 'one stop shop' for the foodservice and retail sectors. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In Germany, forecasting specialist Ipsos InnoQuest has appointed sensory and consumer insight expert Josef Zach as Director, Research & Development, Product Testing. More
GfK has confirmed a 10.2% increase in 2012 sales to EUR 1.5 billion, exceeding its target of 9%. 'Strong' organic growth of 3.1% is cited as a key reason for beating the target. More
In the US, consumer insights group Pure Moxie has bought what it describes as a 'significant stake' in technology firm aSi Media, with the aim of enhancing its own digital insight services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Retail data specialist dunnhumby has hired long-time Arbitron exec Lung Huang for its newly created role of Vice President of Digital Advertising, Global Partnerships. More
Ipsos Marketing has announced a strategic partnership with Bounty, the UK's largest parenting club. The deal gives Ipsos clients access to Bounty's 37,000 strong Word of Mum Panel, comprising mums-to-be, new mums and those with pre-school age children. More
Ipsos has reported 2012 revenues of EUR 1.8bn, up from EUR 1.4bn in 2011, but disappointing given the addition of Synovate. Accustomed to rapid growth, the group blamed the stall on politicians, the integration process and competitor poaching of senior staff. Profits however remained solid. More
Aimia, owner of the Nectar loyalty scheme, has promoted David Johnston to the newly created role of Group Chief Operating Officer, with a remit to further develop its global operating model. Separately, the firm has reported a flat year, propped up by strong EMEA performance based around Nectar UK. More
Lauren Demar has been promoted to the role of Deputy Chief Executive Officer, with responsibility for two Ipsos Marketing divisions: InnoQuest and MarketQuest. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has reorganized its senior management team as part of its strategy to 'accelerate growth and innovation'. More
Dunkin Donuts' parent company Dunkin Brands Group has promoted Rebecca Zogbi to the role of Vice President, Global Consumer and Business Insights. More
US provider Strategy Analytics, which focuses on clients in the technology sector, has opened a new Consumer Insights Practice (CIP) led by Motorola Mobility's former Head of Consumer Insights Joy Ganvik. More
Shopper analytics specialist Euclid has closed a $17.3m round of financing, which it will use to further service its growing customer base. More
Central London-based qual/quant agency Vision One has opened an office in Liverpool from which it will service clients in northern England and Scotland. More
Ipsos Loyalty is to roll out its WAO! share-of-wallet tool in Poland. The service measures share of wallet dynamics within a given category, then assess which aspects of satisfaction and loyalty are driving this. More
Here are the best set of mean salary stats for the UK MR industry you're ever likely to see. Best as in good, solid bases and careful compilation; and the average rise is not bad either. But there's one shocker, and it doesn't take a great analyst to spot it. MrWeb's Nick Thomas continues our celebrations for job no. 100,000. More
In Dubai, Yahoo! has confirmed that from 1 April, its online research business Yahoo! Maktoob Research will no longer offer external support to clients, but instead focus on providing research services to the group's own advertising clients. More
Millward Brown has developed a model which it claims 'cracks the code' for how brands drive financial growth for their organisations. More
UK-based Engage Research has launched an omnibus-style ethnographic study called 'ethnobus', drawing on a range of sources from blogs to cupboard audits. More
Nielsen has reported a 1% rise in revenue to $5.6 billion for the full year 2012, compared with the 8% increase it posted the previous year. Revenue in the firm's Buy retail measurement division was flat while the Watch media analytics arm saw a 3% increase. More
Market research was once said to be 'recession-proof', but we don't hear that quite so often these days. Are we in a 'double-dip'? And in our new, more cautious mode, who are we recruiting and how many of them? Nick Thomas looks at the stats for 2005-12 as we celebrate our 100,000th job ad this week. More
UK-based B2B media company UBM has sold its portfolio of Data Services businesses to private equity fund manager Electra Partners, for a consideration of £160m including a £40m vendor loan note. More
MasterCard's insights arm MasterCard Advisors has acquired a stake in decision science and data analytics firm Mu Sigma, and will work to combine its anonymous purchase behavior data with Mu Sigma's advanced analytics. More
WPP's brand development and insight consultancy Added Value has appointed Sandrine McClure as a Director in its Paris office. More
GfK has named four senior leaders for its operations in the CEE-META (Central and Eastern Europe Middle East, Turkey and Africa) and APAC (Asia and the Pacific) regions. More
US-based online video ad targeting specialist Videology has extended its partnership with Kantar Shopcom, which helps clients link consumer purchases with campaign exposure. More
London-based Behavioural Economics (BE) specialist The Behavioural Architects has appointed Gill O'Hanlon and Rachel Abbott as Director and Associate Director respectively. More
US-based product innovation specialist InsightsNow has appointed former NPD Group LatAm President Mark Turim as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. More
Preliminary results indicate that GfK's full-year revenue rose 10.2% in 2012, to approximately EUR 1.5bn, with organic growth of 3.1%. More
London-based Purple Market Research has announced a partnership with US consumer insights specialist Kelton, as part of the latter's Global Group alliance of international partner firms. More
Consumer information publisher Mintel has launched a new trend forecasting tool called 'Mintel Futures', which draws on a set of six key trends to identify the largest areas of business opportunity. More
Consumer, retail and healthcare specialist SymphonyIRI has promoted Piyush Chaudhari to the newly created role of President of the Americas, with a focus on driving performance and growth for domestic and select global clients. More
Database giant Experian has acquired Melbourne-based analytics business Pacific Micromarketing from publishing group PMP for $AUD 6.2 million (US $6.5m). More
Millward Brown has announced a major expansion of its Link and Facial Coding technology, and says two of its biggest clients, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Company, will use the technique for all their ad testing in 2013. More
Finnish off-line shopper analytics company RapidBlue Solutions has announced an app providing its analytics direct to mobiles. Mobile Retail Store Analytics promises store owners and managers the ability to collect data and view analysis without the need for extra in-store hardware. More
Food, drink and consumer goods specialist MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has announced a new NPD tool, 'Concept Lab', which it says will screen, optimise and validate product potential cost-effectively and without the need for multiple rounds of research. More
Consumer insights specialists Cristina de Balanzó, Siemon Scamell-Katz and Rafal Ohme have set up a new London-based neuroscience consultancy called The Walnut Group. More
In the US, GfK has introduced a new service called Location Insights, to help retailers understand the movements and demographics of crowds around specific shopping environments. More
Miami-based sales performance agency The Retail Outsource Companies has launched a new sister company called 'The Consumer Insight' (TCI), which will offer a range of mystery shopping, customer surveys, compliance audits and competitive intelligence services. More
Global customer and employee research agency ORC International has acquired Cincinnati-based consumer specialist MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc.) from market research network the MVL Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Retail analytics company Euclid has launched Euclid Zero, an off-line shopper analytics package which does not require users to install hardware but operates with existing wireless infrastructure. More
UK supermarket chain Morrisons has promoted Marketing and Operations Director Nick Collard to the new role of Group Marketing and Customer Director. He will join the management board in June. More
Helsinki, Finland-based RapidBlue Solutions has announced a new metric, 'Gross Shopping Hours' (GSH), which it says is based on the discovery of 'a significant relationship between the brick-and-mortar shopping behaviour of shoppers and retail sales.' More
UK-based Engage Research has appointed quant specialist and former Hall & Partners exec Jen Halliwell as a Director based in its new Putney offices. More
Japanese researcher INTAGE Inc. and Cairo-based ConField MENA have announced a non-exclusive alliance agreement to provide customized research services in their respective regions. More
Personalised ad solutions firm myThings has launched what it describes as a 'first-of-its-kind' pre-targeting solution, which analyses the visual attributes of a product in order to predict shopping behaviour. More
Aldata and EYC - previously sister firms within the Symphony Technology Group - have merged to form a new company called Symphony EYC, which will offer big data customer insights across the retail sector. More
Holding group RSMG Insights is bringing its sports broadcast measurement specialists Sport+Markt AG and IFM Sports GmbH under its Repucom brand, consolidating its global businesses in the sector. Meanwhile Andrew Milnes has joined to head up Repucom's marketing in the UK and Ireland. More
Nielsen has rolled out its real-time ad measurement and optimisation tool Online Brand Effect in the UK. More
In Chicago, Jim Lucas has joined brand marketing agency Schawk, in the newly created position of EVP, Global Insights and Strategy. He takes responsibility for formalizing the shopper marketing offer, and driving insight and strategy across the organization. More
GfK NOP, ABA and Research Bods scooped three of the major categories at this year's MRS Awards ceremony held in London last night, while mobile crowdsourcing innovator Nathan Eagle received the inaugural MRS President's Medal. More
London-based consumer agency Firefish has expanded its quant team with four new appointments, including Paul Harvey as a Director, plus Jen Culby, Tom Birch and Louise Dinesen. More
Chicago-based Insights in Marketing (IIM) has launched a new division called 'i on Women', dedicated to understanding female consumers. More
UK-based agency MMR Research Worldwide, which focuses on the food, drink, personal and household care sectors, has announced seven new appointments including Client Services Director Janine Gamon and ADs Dan Hibbs, Tim Button and Tom Pile. More
UK store group The John Lewis Partnership has announced that current Lloyds Banking Group Customer Value chief Paul de Laat will move to the retailer in January to become its first Customer Insight Director. More
In the UK, former AQR Chair Peter Lovett has announced the closure of Consumer Profile Ltd, the Oxfordshire based full-service agency he founded in 1986. He will remain in the industry via a new consultancy, Bespoke Qualitative Research. More
According to reports, Nielsen has bought the remainder of Romanian company Retailplus Eastern Europe from co-founder Octavian Badescu. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Vivek Banerji, formerly a shopper marketing specialist at consultants McKinsey & Company, has joined UK consumer specialist Incite as a Director. More
GfK has reported 'a significant sales increase' of 9.8% to EUR 1,096.8m in the first nine months of 2012, with much of the rise however due to currency effects and acquisitions. Q3 revenue was up 11.3% to EUR 376.7m. EBITDA fell 18.5% to EUR 50.6m. More
Local market specialist Scarborough Research has formally announced its entry into Puerto Rico with a new insights service combining extensive attitudinal data and consumer behavior-based measures. More
US-based Paradigm Sample has added image capture and real-time couponing features to its proprietary IdeaShifters mobile app, which is also now available for Android. More
In the UK, Lloyds Banking Group Head of Retail Strategy Alex Owens is leaving to take up the role of Head of Insight at supermarket chain Sainsbury's. He starts the new job in January. More
Consumer information publisher Mintel has launched a new report series which offers an issue-based perspective of consumer markets across Brazil. More
In Australia, former Added Value Managing Director Mel Carey has joined insights consultancy Fiftyfive5 as a Director, and will combine an active role in the strategic development of the business with work on a number of key accounts. More
Retail optimization firm Aldata has launched the 'Omni-Shopper' suite, which pulls together shopper interaction data from a range of channels and uses it to drive product marketing and supply. More
Sports broadcast measurement specialist Repucom has appointed former Kantar Sport Head Bruno Lalande, for the newly created role of Director of Strategy, EMEA, based in Paris. More
Retail foot traffic counter Shopper-Trak has announced the acquisition of Silicon Valley-based ReTel Technologies Inc., which provides hybrid video auditing solutions and advanced shopper analysis. More
Neuro-technology specialist Emotiv has joined forces with eye tracking specialist SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) to launch a single system through which to measure and analyze consumers' visual attention along with their emotional responses to brands. More
Market intelligence firm Euromonitor has added two new features to its online tool Passport, offering socio-economic information about the world's metropolitan areas, and a visual representation of their citizens. More
Ipsos has reported 9-month revenues of just under EUR 1.28bn, up 45.1% on a constant currency basis since gobbling up Synovate a year ago. The firm says now that the integration is complete, it will 'resume its focus on growth' and on meeting its service quality and profitability targets. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has restructured its European management team in response to what it describes as the 'changing needs' of clients and retail partners. As part of the reshuffle, David Pritchard has been named General Manager of Commercial Activity. More
In Chicago, Publicis-owned interactive agency Rosetta has hired former McKinsey shopper insight leader John Copeland as Managing Partner and Co-Leader of its Marketing Strategy & Insights Practice. More
Nielsen has announced third quarter revenue up 5% year-on-year, on a constant currency basis, to $1.423bn, with its Buy (4%) and Watch (5%) segments both contributing. Adjusted EBITDA rose 7% on the same basis to $424m. More
Kantar Retail is to open its first South American office, in Brazil, where it will team up with WPP sister company TNS to use the latter's primary shopper research capabilities. Former Mars and LVMH executive Eric Debarnot will head up the new office as MD. More
GfK has strengthened its Hong Kong team with the appointment of research veterans Karen Khao, as Head of Consumer Experiences, and Roland Leung as Head of Innovation Research. More
Ian Billington and Paul Cartmell, the co-founders of London-based marcoms group Billington Cartmell (BCL), are leaving following the sale of their agency to investment group Hutton Collins Partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Kantar Media TGI has launched a new initiative called 'The WHY Code', which offers to help clients understand every stage of the consumer decision-making journey, both conscious and subconscious. More
Berkshire-based brand, innovation and shopper research specialist Insitas has appointed former Leapfrog director Sarah Buckle as Director in charge of the development of its qualitative and integrated research services. More
Retail data specialist dunnhumbyUSA is to extend its presence in Chicago by taking the entire twenty-second floor of the city's Merchandise Mart, where it has plans to add 30 or more new members of staff in the next eighteen months. More
UK-based behavioural insights firm Beyond Analysis has appointed ad agency veteran David O'Hanlon as Strategy Director, with a brief to identify new products and oversee the development and execution of client strategies. More
In Germany, full service agency Dr Grieger & Cie has launched online panels in Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. More
MyWebGrocer, which runs web sites on behalf of grocery chains and sells ads to CPG companies across these sites, has partnered with FGI Research to launch the 'Grocery Voice' online research panel of digitally active grocery shoppers. More
Broadband and telecoms giant Telefónica has partnered with GfK to open a big data business unit called Telefónica Dynamic Insights, which will sell anonymised and aggregated mobile network data to companies and public sector organisations worldwide. More
WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell and MORI founder Sir Robert Worcester have been appointed as patrons of the Market Research Society (MRS), alongside dunnhumby founder Clive Humby and social commentator Peter York. More
UK-based agency 2CV has promoted Mark Bagnall to Managing Director of its UK office, following Doug Edmonds' relocation to San Francisco, where he now serves as Group CEO. More
GfK has acquired South African research company GlobalEDGE Marketing Consultants, in a bid to further strengthen its Consumer Experiences offer across Africa. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
A year after returning to TNS Jan Hofmeyr has refined his ConversionModel, to help clients identify how people feel about their brand and determine how external barriers like price and availability affect consumer spending. More
UK-based supermarket giant Tesco is planning a new Clubcard scheme which will provide consumers with products and games offering 'simple, useful, and fun' personalised access to their own shopping data. More
In the UK, marketing services and print group St. Ives Plc has invested around £1m in additional staff to support future growth plans at its recently acquired market research agency Incite and consumer consultancy Pragma; and says it has plans to finance these businesses further. More
US-based full service agency Radius Global Market Research has rolled out a new approach for identifying and dissecting the various components of the consumer purchase process. More
Ad intelligence provider Exponential Interactive has partnered with MasterCard's analytics arm to incorporate retail-level consumer spending behavior data into its online audience targeting services. More
Point-of-sale data giant Catalina is planning to triple the size of its Boston,US-based team and relocate it to a 75,000 square foot office in the city's 'Innovation District' in November. More
Finnish shopper and visitor analytics specialist RapidBlue Solutions has launched a 3D visualisation tool for mapping shopper movements, to enable retailers to understand the performance of their retail space across different floors and trading areas. More
In the UK, Sainsbury's has linked up with Aimia, owner of the Nectar loyalty scheme, to launch Insight 2 Communication (I2C), a joint venture which will use Nectar data to enable suppliers to develop targeted communications for the supermarket's customers. More
GfK has appointed seven leaders in China, Korea, Malaysia and Japan, as part of a strategy to expand its global research solutions across the Asia Pacific region. More
Retail data specialist dunnhumbyUSA has promoted supermarket loyalty card specialist Rex Davis to the role of SVP, Head of India, overseeing the firm's office in Gurgaon, India. The firm has also promoted Dave Palm to the position of SVP, Operations. More
Relationship marketing firm Emailvision has acquired behavioural personalisation technology provider PredictiveIntent, in a bid to add predictive analytics to its own marketing automation and customer intelligence software. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Online specialist BrainJuicer has opened a 'client-facing' practice in India, where it has appointed Pooja Haldea as Managing Director – India, based in New Delhi, and Sarah Cowell-Thomas as Head of Juice Generation – India, based in Mumbai. More
London-based communications research agency MESH Planning has expanded to the US with the opening of an office in Manhattan, New York, led by Experience Director Nathan Evans. More
GfK Philippines has appointed former Nielsen exec Mary Margaret Co Martinez to lead its Retailer team in the role of Retail Director. More
CIE, Chime's Insight and Engagement group, has reported an 18% increase in operating income in the first half of the year, up from £3.9m to £4.6m, while operating profit rose 148% from £400k to £900k during the period. More
US-based MR and analytics provider in4mation insights has appointed five new members of staff, including shopper specialist Susan Bertenthal and former Nielsen exec Jonathan Poeder. More
Retail analysis giant SymphonyIRI has appointed former Procter & Gamble grocery specialist Beverly Grant as President of Retail Solutions, with a remit to enhance and implement the company's broader US retail strategy. More
Omnibus and syndicated data specialist Roy Morgan Research has launched a new service called the 'Digital Universe', to provide a view of Australians' daily lives, including media consumption, shopping habits, socialisation and expectations. More
Consumer research agency rdsi has promoted ten members of staff, including Research Directors Emma O'Connell and Tim Gowing (pictured) who join the Senior Management team. More
US customer loyalty and employee engagement firm Service Management Group (SMG) has acquired Locately, which specializes in helping retailers and restaurants analyze what drives consumers' shopping and dining decisions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Eric McDowell, the founder of Alaska-based research and consulting firm McDowell Group, died on Monday in hospital in Seattle, following a brief illness. He was 69 years old. More
Asian agency ABN Research has opened an office in Hong Kong, from which it plans to expand beyond the FMCG and white good sectors to supporting service industries such as finance and telecoms. The firm has also been re-named as 'ABN Impact'. More
New York-based consumer behavior research and consulting firm Envirosell has opened an office in Istanbul, Turkey, led by recently appointed telecoms specialists Melik Karabiyikoglu and Burc Tutanc. More
Digital agency XM Asia Pacific has opened a Consumer Experience Lab in Singapore. The facility will use Tobii eye-tracking technology, heuristic techniques and usability metrics to examine how Asian consumers absorb the information they see in digital ads and traditional media. More
GfK has reported a 9.1% increase in sales to EUR 720.1m for the first half of 2012, most of which comes from currency effects and acquisitions. Organic growth of just 1.7% results from a healthy 4.2% rise in the Consumer Choices business combined with flat performance from Consumer Experiences. More
In the US, former MarketQuest CEO Mary Beth Lake and Chief Research Officer Paul Holtzman have joined Chicago-based full service marketing and sensory research firm Peryam & Kroll Research (P&K) as Senior Vice Presidents. More
Kantar Media has bought AGB Nielsen's 50% stake in the TGI (Target Group Index) service operating in Turkey. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based brand and marketing consultancy Prophet has acquired innovation agency (r)evolution, which focuses on linking consumer insights to business growth. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based mobile research platform CrowdLab has appointed former FreshMinds exec Niall Smith as Research & Technology Director; and a further five staff to support the ongoing delivery of the firm's services. More
Multi-screen measurement specialist Rentrak has partnered with product placement analysis firm iTVX, to help brands and programmers understand the impact on audiences when a TV show uses a brand in a story line. More
In South Africa two former employees of RI and GlobalEDGE Marketing Consultants, Andrew Johnson and Catherine Read-Fletcher, have set up a new agency, Beyond Insights. More
US-based predictive analytics and consulting services firm Intalytics has announced an exclusive partnership with forecasting and analytics expert Jim Stone, principal consultant of Chain Store Advisors. More
Helsinki-based RapidBlue Solutions has launched a point-of-sale (POS) integrated version of its Shopper Analytics solution, to enable retailers to analyze those shopping trips which do not lead to sales. More
US-based product innovation specialist InsightsNow has launched a new research approach called 'Product Spark', which it says solves the 'concept to product translation dilemma' when applied at the beginning of an R&D initiative. More
Nielsen/Arbitron joint venture Scarborough Research has hooked up with GfK MRI to offer a service exploring the links between the attitudes of American consumers and their shopping and media consumption patterns. More
Ipsos has reported a 53.4% increase in first half revenues to EUR 837.0m, reflecting the integration of Synovate into its financial statements. More
Nielsen has reported a 1% fall in second quarter revenue to $1.39 billion as a result of weak foreign currency exchange rates - but on a constant currency basis, revenue was up 4%. More
Shopper research specialist PRS (Perception Research Services) has opened a new office in Rome, Italy, led by Account Manager Roberto Fois and Project Director Gianluca Sacchet. More
In the UK, Ipsos has transferred Belinda Freeman to the new role of Head of Distribution and Merchandising Tracking, with a particular focus on emerging markets. More
UK-based consumer insight and strategic consulting firm The Future Foundation has appointed former Iconoculture exec Nick Chiarelli as Key Account Director, to spearhead new business initiatives and develop its content and consultancy offerings. More
Finnish shopper and visitor analytics specialist RapidBlue Solutions has been granted an EU-wide patent for profiling consumers based on their historical and current movements, gathered anonymously using radio frequency technologies. More
In the US, Georgetown University has established a new Institute for Consumer Research, centred around technology-focused consumers and how to market to them. More
US-based agency Food Insights has been re-named 'Research Between the Lines' (RBTL), reflecting a shift in the company towards more integrated qual/quant methodologies. More
Research group Cello has revealed that it has spent £600k in the last year on consolidating operations and reducing headcount in its Research and Consulting division; and is now splitting its business into two new divisions. More
Retail data specialist dunnhumbyUSA has appointed former P&G marketer Allen Mason as Vice President of Analysis, Strategy and Planning; while ex-Pepsi insights exec Leslie Liss joins as Vice President of Manufacturer Commercial Solutions. More
UK-based SPA Future Thinking has launched Volumetric Choice Based Conjoint (VCBC), a new modelling methodology which it says will forecast a brand's value and volume shifts against competitors. More
In the UK, consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide continues the rapid growth of its Oxfordshire and London teams, announcing six new hires including AD Helen Stratton. More
New York-based Affinity Solutions - which analyzes consumer spending data to help clients with their targeted marketing initiatives - has completed a $14.5m round of funding, which it will use to finance product and technology innovation, and business development. More
Ipsos Loyalty has followed up last year's WAR with the launch of a research solution called WAO!, to help clients understand 'share of wallet' in their target sectors. More
WPP-owned ad network Grey Group Germany has bought the remaining 50% of shopper marketing and insight agency Frey G2 from its co-founder Ulrich Dirk Frey. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Retail data specialist dunnhumby has hired former MicroStrategy exec Nishat Mehta to drive the global expansion and commercialization of its solutions as EVP, Global Partners, based in New York City. More
Nielsen has promoted Mathias Bernhardt to Managing Director in Germany, responsible for developing the firm's Buy consumer purchase behavior segment. More
UK-based researcher SPA Future Thinking has introduced an ethnographic tool called See-Me, which it claims 'bridges the gap' between actual and recalled consumer behaviour. More
The fifty largest research firms reported a 5.1% increase in US-based aggregated revenues to $9.2 billion in 2011, according to the 39th annual report by industry authority Jack Honomichl. More
Kantar Media TGI and Nielsen have teamed up to launch a new media analysis tool in Ireland, combining Nielsen's TV data with the TGI survey of consumers' brand and product use, attitudes and media habits. More
In the UK, consumer specialist Leapfrog Research has closed its Windsor-based headquarters and moved into sister agency RS Consulting's offices in London. Parent company Cello says the move follows an agreement between the two agencies to form an 'alliance'. More
UK-based behavioral insights firm Beyond Analysis has opened an office in the US, led by Hunter Albright, who has been appointed CEO for North America and Global Head of Consulting. More
In the US, Scarborough Research is adding nationwide voter data from political data provider TargetSmart Communications to its own consumer database, to enable agencies, politicians and lobbyists to examine consumer behavior relevant to specific election issues. More
Research consultancy Kadence India has appointed former Hansa Research General Manager Maninder Khurana as Vice President - Consumer Insights. More
In the UK, consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide has appointed seven new members of staff, including Jon Arthurs as Client Services Director. The new staff will be split between the firm's Wallingford, Oxford HQ and its London office. More
Retail analysis giant SymphonyIRI Group has appointed former Aon COO Andrew Appel as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding John Freeland who plans to retire later in the year. More
US marketing technology and analytics firm Adlucent has launched an intent-based Shopping Analytics tool, to help retailers optimize their customer acquisition strategies by customer segment, while also improving their inventory planning and merchandising functions. More
US-based kiosk firm smartDIGITAL has raised $2.7m in Series A funding, which it plans to use to expand its presence in Chicago with the launch of a new product line. The company makes interactive display units that store and analyse consumer behavioral data. More
In the US, the Missouri School of Journalism has partnered with HCD Research to conduct studies combining biometric and eye tracking measures to further understanding of consumer choices. More
In the UK, JRA Research has acquired an online panel of chefs and catering managers, numbering around 1,200 individuals across a range of food service sectors. More
Multi-screen measurement firm Rentrak Corporation has agreed a deal with MasterCard, combining the former's TV Essentials viewing data from US homes with the latter's consumer trends insights derived from billions of payment transactions. More
Point-of-sale data giant Catalina Marketing Corporation has announced the launch of BuyerVision, a new purchase-based targeting solution for CPG advertisers. More
In the UK, BDRC Group has acquired retail specialist ESA Market Research Ltd, for an undisclosed sum. More
Swedish firm EyeTrackShop has closed a $3m funding round, which it will use to accelerate its international expansion plans. More
GfK has reported an 11.3% increase in sales to EUR 345.1m for the first three months of 2012, with organic growth of 4.9%. Adjusted operating income rose 10.2% to EUR 33.5m. The firm says its new 'Own the Future' corporate strategy has contributed to the healthy figures. More
North of England-based Dipsticks Research has promoted Andreas Thorslund to the post of Head of Brand and Communications Research. Three other members of staff have also been promoted. More
In the US, WPP-owned insights and innovation consultancy Added Value Cheskin has adapted its online qual platform AV-id to widen its coverage of the US Hispanic market. More
In Australia, Roy Morgan Research has announced a partnership with local trade body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) with an eye to using their complementary experience to provide clients with insight on the retail process. More
In Sweden, shopper and consumer specialist NORM has launched 'Scandinavia's first quantitative research panel of pregnant women.' At least 4,000 women will join the panel evenly over the next twelve months. More
In Singapore, Nielsen has launched an Asian 'innovation hub' incorporating divisions for neuroscience (NeuroLAB), virtual, mobile and eye-tracking technologies (ShopperLAB) and market measurement and consumer information (MSciLAB). More
Guildford, UK-based custom panel provider EasyInsites has teamed up with Mom365, the US sister company of the UK's Bounty Ltd, to launch a panel of new and expectant mothers. More
UK-based qual and quant agency Marketing Sciences has promoted Jane Rudling to the position of Managing Director, replacing Keith Bates who takes on the role of Executive Chairman. More
In the US, full service food testing company Northland Laboratories has launched a sensory insights division, to offer sensory research services to manufacturers, developers and marketers of food and beverage products. More
Unilever-owned ice cream manufacturer Streets has launched what it claims is Australia's first facial recognition billboard, which it is using to promote its Magnum Infinity product. More
Data collection agency SWAT Research Field Force has launched a new omnibus survey among consumers in the UAE. More
Ipsos has reported a 46% increase in first quarter revenues to EUR 379.9m, reflecting the addition of Synovate's business. However, it admits the need to integrate the two businesses has slowed expansion: volume of sales was down slightly on Q1 2011, and organic growth of just 2% is expected this year. More
Stakeholder and employee engagement specialist Dawn Smith has been appointed Research Director at Bristol-based customer insight and brand strategy consultancy 100%Cotton. More
Nielsen has reported a 3% rise in revenue to $1.3 billion for the first quarter ended March 31. Growth was fairly even in its Buy consumer purchase behavior segment (up 2.7% to $800m)and its Watch media research division (up 2.6% to $480m). More
Web-based consumer researcher BuzzBack has partnered with Swedish eye tracking solutions firm MRC international, to offer new ways for marketers to evaluate their packaging and communications. More
Quratulain Ibrahim has been promoted from COO to Chief Executive Officer of full service agency TNS-Aftab, the global agency's affiliate company in Pakistan and Afghanistan. More
Kantar Retail is to acquire a minority interest in Dubai-based retail consultancy GME, its franchise partner in the emirate since being formed in 2007. More
In the US, consumer goods and retail specialist dunnhumbyUSA has made six Vice President appointments: Gul Ahuja, Global Solutions; Tom Cox and Cara Pratt, Manufacturer Practice; Julian Farbstein and Rachael Hadaway, Client Solutions; and Allison Unkraut, Client Leadership. More
Singapore-based Agility Research & Strategy has launched a quarterly series of reports exploring the psyche of Asian consumers regarding wealth and luxury. More
Nielsen has partnered with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business to offer a historical perspective on consumer purchases to all US-based academic researchers. More
In Canada, research firm Hotspex has partnered with strategy specialist LEVEL5 to design BrandMap, an online tool that quantifies and links the emotional and rational drivers of brand usage. More
US-based full service market research agency CMI has appointed shopper insights expert Donna Wydra as Senior Vice President of Consumer and Shopper Strategy, to expand its solutions for manufacturers, retailers and restaurants. More
WPP has acquired a 35% stake in retail marketing specialist Barrows, which offers a diverse range of services for FMCG clients, including shopper insights, retail strategy and product design. Terms were not disclosed. More
GfK has announced the launch of ConX (Consumer Experience Measurement and Tracking), a holistic, customizable tool for measuring, evaluating and optimizing the consumer experience. More
The MENA division of Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) has launched its panel in the United Arab Emirates, continuing its roll-out throughout the region. More
Media and information giant Hearst Corporation has acquired a twenty percent stake in UK-based consumer behaviour and trend spotting specialist Stylus Media Group. Financial terms were not disclosed. More
Consumer specialist The NPD Group has appointed Mike Leahy President in Canada, overseeing all aspects of its technology, home, fashion, food and custom market research business in the country. More
US-based agency Forbes Consulting Group has introduced a new tool called MindSight Mobile, promising access to consumers' emotions in real time as they use their smart phones and tablet devices. More
Market intelligence company Mintel has launched the first consumer research report in a monthly series examining Chinese consumer behaviour across the food and non-food consumer products markets, retail and foodservice industries. More
US-based online sampling and technology company uSamp has introduced a proprietary Hispanic panel with more than 100,000 members, adding to its existing global panel of around 7.5 million respondents. More
Online sampling and panel exchange firm Cint has announced a new partnership with UK online parenting community Netmums Ltd, giving its clients access to an 'unrivalled' number of individuals in the 'Mothers of Babies' category in the UK. More
Online measurement service Experian Hitwise has launched AudienceView, a targeting service giving retailers demographic, psychographic, transactional and behavioral insights on their US target consumers or audiences. More
In New York, consumer demand specialist The Demand Institute has appointed Pope Ward as Executive Director and Louise Keely as Chief Research Officer. The Institute is jointly operated as a non-profit body by The Conference Board and Nielsen. More
In the UK, the Market Research Society (MRS) has announced that former GfK NOP Head Phyllis Macfarlane will become its new Chairman in April, following the completion of Vanella Jackson's two-year term. More
In the US, research software and services firm MarketTools has partnered with new product forecasting specialist Top Box Associates, to provide a 'one-stop approach' to forecasting for new product launches, line extensions and re-launched products. More
In the UK, market intelligence company Mintel has appointed Benjamin Punchard as Senior Global Packaging Analyst, to develop its global offering. More
New York-based sports research firm RSMG has acquired competitor agency IFM Group in a deal which includes German-based IFM Sports and UK-based IFM Sports Marketing Surveys. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. More
Consumer and sensory specialist MMR Research has formed a dedicated research team, focused on early stage product development and packaging work and the creation of new qualitative and bespoke research approaches. More
US experiential marketing agency TEAM Enterprises has opened a shopper insights division called TEAM TransActive, with a goal to 'connect brands and consumers' wherever they shop. More
In the US, virtual shopping research specialist Decision Insight has launched a suite of solutions called ShopperIQ, to test and measure what consumers do while in an actual store environment. More
Manchester, UK-based B2B International is gearing up for the April launch of a new consumer-focused agency called 'deep see', which aims to 'get to the bottom of what customers really think'. More
Bertram ('Bert') Russick, the former owner of Minneapolis-based polling specialist Mid-Continent Surveys, died on Thursday January 26th at the age of 90. More
Emerging markets specialist Borderless Access Panels has announced launches in Indonesia and Turkey. More
In the US, consumer research company the NPD Group has decided to stay in its current headquarters in Port Washington, NY and expand the premises rather than move to a bigger alternative location. The company will also site its expanded data center at its headquarters and create ten new jobs. More
Nielsen has reported good growth and profit with full year 2011 revenues up 8% (6% at constant currencies) to $5.53bn and adjusted EBITDA up 10% (8%) to $1.546 bn. More
In the US, NPD Group has announced an agreement with Walmart to process its point of sale data. The firm has also appointed four new analysts, plus Raj Misra as Director of Marketing. More
Retail and mall foot-traffic counting specialist ShopperTrak Corporation has boosted its planned expansion in Europe with the appointment of a European CEO. Former company COO Todd Starcevich moves from the Chicago headquarters. More
WPP's global retail practice The Store has launched a new resource offering clients access to a range of services covering shopper insights, store design, customer relationship management, in-store communications, packaging and e-commerce. More
In the US, retail performance consultancy Claris Solutions has joined forces with data analytics start-up Euclid Elements, to offer a solution that uses mobile sensors to map shopper traffic patterns in retail spaces. More
UK-based shopper analyst Planet Retail has appointed former Mintel exec Frank Weibelzahl as Sales Director for its European division. More
North of England-based Dipsticks Research has opened two new divisions - travel and tourism specialist 'explore research', and bespoke consumer solutions unit 'fmcg insights'; and appointed Katie Bryan-Brown and John Vincent to lead them. More
GfK has announced revenue up 6.2% to EUR 1.374 billion in 2011, in preliminary figures released today. Almost all (5.8%) was organic growth. Operating income grew relatively little due to specific items including write-downs and recruitment of a new CEO. More
Millward Brown has partnered with emotional measurement company Affectiva to offer clients deeper insight into the emotional impact of their TV advertising. Affectiva's facial expression analysis technology Affdex will be integrated with MB's LINK copy testing and optimization solution. More
In Germany, Bernd Wachter has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer of qual specialist The Psyma Group, succeeding Fargel Matthias who is retiring after ten years in the role. More
Retail analysis giant SymphonyIRI has partnered with UK independent grocery comparison web site mySupermarket, to provide what the firms describe as 'the first' multi-channel view of shoppers' behaviour in the UK - both online and in-store. More
UK supermarket Sainsbury's has finally filled the vacant role of Marketing Director, appointing Heineken's UK Marketing Director and former Innovation Director Sarah Warby. More
Multi-channel mobile solutions firm Digby has announced the launch of Localpoint, a platform offering location-based marketing, analytics and commerce. More
In the US, Experian Simmons has launched a new cross-platform media analysis service that links consumers' online and mobile activities to brand preferences, attitudes, lifestyles and behaviors. More
Global information services giant Experian has partnered with IT firm Hitachi Consulting to add a cloud-based solution called Site Analytics to its Experian FootFall visitor analytics solution. The combination will deliver site and store-network performance measurement. More
Market intelligence company Mintel has today announced the opening of three offices in the Asia Pacific region. Already open for business, the three are located in Mumbai, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. More
In the UK, former JRA Research Associate Director Stuart Green has launched a new consultancy, fresh research. The company will specialize in integrated qual-quant projects. More
In the US, e-commerce media solutions firm HookLogic has appointed Jeff Griffin, the co-founder of Interpublic's Shopper Sciences arm, as President of Retail. More
UK-based insight and research consultancy The Behavioural Architects (TBA) has expanded into China by merging with Shanghai-based agency Research Essentials, which will now be known as The Behavioural Architects, China. More
In the US, dunnhumby - the data firm behind the Tesco Clubcard loyalty scheme - has appointed Yael Cosset as Global Chief Information Officer (CIO), alongside his existing role as CEO of the company's price modeling and customer insight firm KSS Retail. More
In the UK, consumer behaviour specialist Shoppercentric has appointed former Sainsbury's Senior Insight Manager Claire Pearson as a Director. More
Nielsen has acquired Chicago-based fresh food industry research specialist The Perishables Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Consumer and sensory specialist MMR Research is expanding into Asia, with the opening of an office in Singapore, where it has appointed former TNS sector CEO Clive Little to lead the operation; and a Sensory Science Centre in Shanghai. More
US-based Radius Global Market Research has introduced a new process called 'Configure', to help clients identify new product opportunities by tapping into consumers' perceptions of how a market is structured. More
In Chicago, web based 3-D virtual store research specialist InContext Solutions has received $1.5m in venture capital investment from a consortium co-led by newly launched Hyde Park Venture Partners (HPVP) and Hyde Park Angels, and including graphics and computing company AMD. More
French agency Adriant has launched a new methodology using picture boards for measuring consumers' emotional reactions to brands and products, and analysing the key drivers of their purchasing decisions. More
GfK has promoted three of its senior Asia Pacific execs - Frans Janssen to Executive Managing Director for the region; Stanley Kee to MD, Southeast Asia; and Benny Villanueva to General Manager for GfK Philippines. More
UK agency Holden Pearmain has appointed former TNS MD Dr Tacis Gavoyannis as head of its Consumer Division. Also joining the firm are FMCG specialist David Beech, methodologist Svetlana Gogolina and qual researcher Wei Wei Yang. More
In the US, research veterans Sanjay Vrudhula, Lyle Durbin and Tod Higginbotham have set up a new firm, Reconnaissance Market Research (ReconMR), targeting Texas-based companies with $1 billion or more in revenue. More
The team at MrWeb would like to wish all our readers and friends around the world a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. More
In the US, dunnhumby's CIO Paul Hunter has moved across to its social media marketing agency BzzAgent to take up the post of Chief Operating Officer, with a remit to integrate the former's shopper insights with the latter's social media marketing practices. More
In the US, data and analytics company InsightExpress has followed up last week's deal with SymphonyIRI by announcing a partnership with Kantar Shopcom, further expanding its Ignite CPG product. More
In the US, InsightExpress has partnered with SymphonyIRI to launch a tool which combines digital ad measurement capabilities with off-line consumer data, helping to link online ad exposure and in-store buying behavior. More
In the US, digital specialist Specific Media has partnered with ad performance specialist Nielsen Catalina Solutions to launch 'Shopper Access', a service which combines off-line purchase behavior with online ad data to provide insights into how advertising influences consumer purchases. More
GfK has acquired US-based consumer specialist Knowledge Networks. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. More
Consumer and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide has hired former Conquest Research director Judith Henderson to lead its new London office, where it has also appointed Elina Halonen, Katja Lips and Adrian Martindale, and re-located Mark Sismey. More
Ipsos has extended its presence in South East Asia with the acquisition of analysis specialist Consumer Behavior & Insight (CBI) in Vietnam. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
German market research agency Dialego has launched a new social media division, and appointed Unilever research veteran Annette Stucken to lead it. More
In Sydney, Australia, retail and shopper specialist Peter Wilson has joined Jigsaw Strategic Research as Director of Shopper and Channel. More
New York-based Insight Research Group has changed its name to Insight Strategy Group, reflecting its 'evolution and expanding scope of services'. More
Online specialist YouGov has rolled out its weekly brand and product polling tool Launch Monitor in the UK, following its recent introduction in Scandinavia. More
Following its acquisition of Synovate, Ipsos has promoted Grant Bertoli to the position of CEO for South East Asia (SEA), and confirmed the appointment of Synovate's Singapore MD Miranda Cheung as MD of Ipsos in Singapore and SEA. Senior European and US roles have also been finalised. More
IBM veteran Matthias Hartmann has officially taken up the post of Chief Executive Officer of GfK, replacing Professor Dr. Klaus L. Wübbenhorst who has stepped down. More
In New York, WPP-owned sister firms Millward Brown and data integration / analytics specialist Kantar Shopcom have partnered to create a single-source panel combining consumer attitudes with actual purchase behaviors. More
US-based Objective Logistics - whose software analyses all the data produced during a restaurant's daily trading - has raised $1.5m for further development and commercialisation of its MUSE product. More
In the UK, full service consultancy FreshMinds Research has expanded in London with ten new staff appointments. More
In the UK, international specialist River Research has appointed former ICM Qualitative Head Marcus Boyland as a Director. More
Synovate Retail Performance (SRP) has partnered with Norwegian shopper tracking specialist Track & Trace, to provide retailers and brand owners with a behavioural solution for monitoring customer experience and satisfaction. More
UK market research agency Firefish has appointed planner John Jones, formerly of Red Bee Media, as Group Head. He leads a team working on retail, FMCG and media accounts. More
In Italy, sports research specialist Immagine & Sport has re-organised, with Nevio Devidè assuming the role of CEO, replacing Marco Nazzari who becomes Managing Director. More
In New York, trade organization the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau (CAB) has partnered with BigInsight parent firm Prosper Business Development, to launch a new resource to provide advertisers and publishers with insights on African-American consumers. More
US-based Media Logic has introduced the 'Retail Social Juice Index', which measures social media engagement for more than 500 brands across Facebook and Twitter and distills data for each into a single metric published daily. More
Retail research firm The NPD Group has moved Mark Turim, previously President and General Manager for its Asia Pacific business, to the same role in Latin America as part of a drive to expand its business in the latter region. More
US social media research firm Feedback has launched in the UK, with the opening of an office in Islington, London, led by co-founders President and CEO Jeff Thompson and Executive Vice President Dean Browell. More
In the US, retail analysis giant SymphonyIRI has launched a new segmentation model called EconoLink, which groups shoppers into specific profiles based on their attitudes and behavior with regard to the economic downturn / recession. More
In the UK, Visa Europe has taken a minority stake in customer insight group Beyond Analysis, with the aim of strengthening its data analytics capabilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
WPP-owned brand activation network G2 has rolled out its shopper marketing tool Pathfinder in Australia, offering insight into what influences shoppers' path-to-purchase. More
GfK has reported a good performance for the third quarter and first nine months of 2011. Q3 organic sales growth was 5.2% and the adjusted margin was up slightly on Q3 the previous year to 15.7%. Sales in the first 9 months of the year totalled EUR 999m - up 7.1% (7.0% organic). More
Sensory and consumer specialist product perceptions has announced a partnership with qual brand developer Deep Blue Research, promising clients richer concept insights and FMCG brand development. More
In the UK, consumer research specialist Firefish has appointed radio industry exec MJ Olaore as its new Chief Operating Officer. Samantha Siva also joins as Qualitative Director and Karen Harwood as Field Project Manager. More
In the US, full service agency MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc.) has introduced a new Hispanic 'acculturation' model, which it says provides better insights on the Hispanic consumer, their perceptions, and their shopping behavior. More
WPP firms Kantar Media and media operations unit GroupM have announced a partnership aimed at uncovering the links between exposure to TV ads and purchase decisions. Viewers of Hispanic programming will be the first group studied. More
In the US, a team including Google Analytics co-founder Scott Crosby has launched a new analytics platform called Euclid Elements, with a $5.8m Series A round of financing. More
Following its recent acquisition of Synovate and in line with plans to withdraw the Synovate brand in January, Ipsos has restructured its team in China. Five 'Combined Country Managers' will ready the businesses for integration while ensuring they run separately until the end of the year. More
Brand and communications research specialist Hall & Partners has opened a mobile market research lab in the back of a London taxi cab. More
In the US, retail analysis giant SymphonyIRI has partnered with online ad marketplace Legolas Media to enable marketers to buy online ads based on user-level in-store purchase behavior, and then use actual product sales data for ongoing ROI measurement. More
Ipsos - now the world's third largest market research company - has reported organic growth of 6.0% for the first nine months of the year, with revenue rising to EUR 845.8m. Growth slowed slightly in the third quarter and the firm is hunkering down for tough economic times ahead. More
UK supermarket Waitrose is to introduce a loyalty card, almost two decades after rival Tesco. The up-market grocer will send cards to members of its myWaitrose online club, which has been gathering insights for around two years; and will also offer them in stores. More
In the US, consumer strategy firm Insight Research Group has named Dawn Henry to the newly created position of SVP, Insights and Strategy. More
In New York, Ipsos Loyalty Research has introduced the 'Wallet Allocation Rule' (WAR); a new research model to help businesses track their share of consumer spending. More
In the UK, analyst firm Planet Retail has appointed former Ipsos MORI shopper expert Lindsay Cowan as Chief Knowledge Officer. More
Synovate Retail Performance (SRP) has partnered with face recognition specialist Firs Technology in Greater China, to provide retailers and brand owners in the region with access to technology and data reporting for stores. More
In the UK, consumer insight specialist Engage Research has reported a 13% increase in sales for the year ended 31 March 2011, with turnover up to £2.7m. More
Maritz Research has moved into its new offices in High Wycombe, UK, making room as it continues rapid European growth. More
US-based retail store analysis specialist ShopperTrak has established a presence in Europe through the purchase of RCT Analytics, which develops a range of solutions to count consumers at shopping centres and retailers across the UK. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Ipsos has completed its acquisition of Synovate for £528.8m - up £3.8m from the previously agreed figure of £525m - to form the third largest market research company in the world. More
US-based BIGinsight has launched the 'Hispanic InsightCenter' platform, tracking how Hispanics feel about the economy, where they are shopping, their spending patterns and how they are using media such as smartphones and tablet devices. More
In the UK, consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide (MMR) has launched an approach to packaging research which uses psychology and sensory science to extract the non-conscious elements of the consumer decision-making process. More
Full service agency SPA Future Thinking has launched two new packaging development tools, 'PackPotential' and 'PackPerfect', which integrate behavioural and emotional techniques into its traditional methodologies. More
UK-based publisher and market analyst Mintel has acquired consumer market data provider Access Asia, with the aim of building up its research capabilities in China. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, online targeting specialist Datalogix has appointed former Nielsen exec Rob Holland as General Manager, with responsibility for the firm's suite of audience and measurement solutions for the CPG sector. Ashley Grace has also joined as Head of Client Solutions. More
Japanese consulting services specialist Nomura Research Institute (NRI) has acquired a 25.1% stake in New Delhi-based Market Xcel Data Matrix, through which it plans to expand its research and consulting business activities to India. More
European agency SKOPOS Market Insight has rolled out its NEKXT mystery shopping service in the UK. More
GfK has launched a new panel of Turkish consumers, billed as the first to use in-home scanning technology to provide insights based on actual purchase data. More
US-based customer intelligence firm Market Force Information has raised $15m, which it plans to use to grow both organically and through acquisitions. This follows last week's acquisition of UK-based mystery shopping specialist Retail Eyes. More
In the UK, marketing services and print group St. Ives Plc has acquired Twickenham-based retail and consumer consultancy Pragma for an initial £3.3m, rising to a maximum of £6m with payments based on current-year performance. More
In the US, six shopper research specialists have formed an alliance to offer marketers an integrated resource for shopper insights. The new organization will be called Mindtap Insight Network. More
Gloucestershire-based medical data collection specialist Gillian Kenny Associates (GKA) has branched into consumer and b2b research with the launch of a new company, Angelfish. More
US-based customer intelligence firm Market Force Information has bought into Europe with the acquisition of UK-based customer experience and mystery shopping provider Retail Eyes. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, retail giant Walmart has acquired mobile and social media ad targeting start-up OneRiot, and added it to its WalmartLabs social media technology division. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
The market research industry has returned to growth following two 'very challenging years', according to ESOMAR's Global Market Research 2011 report. Global turnover rose to US $31.2 billion in 2010, representing a total year-on-year growth of 5.2%, or 2.8% allowing for inflation. More
Australian-based agency The Leading Edge has moved Andrew Povolny, formerly MD of its Sydney-based Digital Edge division, to New York in the role of Managing Partner. He will also serve as the firm's first 'Global Client Partner' for a key client, in this case KFC-owner Yum! Restaurants. More
Ipsos is planning to issue around EUR 200m worth of new shares, to part-fund its acquisition of Synovate. More
Maritz Research has acquired Wiesbaden, Germany-based MR consultancy Imagin AG, a specialist in stakeholder and customer feedback management; along with subsidiary call centre company Customer Care International GmbH (CCI). More
US-based merchandising and marketing services company SPAR Group, Inc. is to launch a Mexican subsidiary, SPAR Todopromo. More
In London, consumer behaviour specialist Shoppercentric has appointed qual freelancer Louise Lear as a Director. More
Branding and retail specialist Razor Research has promoted Elle Atton to the role of Director and appointed Matt Arnold, formerly Head of Qual at Quadrangle, also as a Director. More
In the US, CPG, retail and healthcare specialist SymphonyIRI has promoted Rob Holston as Executive Vice President, leading its Analytics practice in North America. More
The UK's largest mutual retailer, the Co-operative Group, has appointed former MasterCard Advisors chief Neil Carden to the new role of Director of Insight and Planning. More
US-based packaging research and eye-tracking specialist Perception Research Services International (PRS) has announced a strategic partnership with Latin American firm Provokers, which has offices in Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Mexico City. More
Food, drink and personal care specialist MMR Research Worldwide has announced six new hires at its Wallingford, Oxfordshire headquarters, including Client Services Director Jo Morton and Research Director Simon Williams. More
Synovate has reported an 8.4% rise in revenue to £269.7m for the first half of the year, ahead of its forthcoming sale to Ipsos for an agreed £525m. Organic gross revenue growth was 6.6% and operating profit rose 14.9% to £5.4m despite a ten percent rise in headcount. More
In London, full-service consultancy Simpson Carpenter has strengthened its Major Studies, Retail and Healthcare & Pharmaceutical teams, with four new appointments. More
US media measurement firm TRA has teamed up with retail research specialist dunnhumbyUSA to use the latter's data, expertise, and analytics to extend its Media TRAnalytics TV viewership/shopper purchase matching solution. More
In New York, The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) has appointed former Campbell Soup insights leader Bob Woodard as EVP, Advertising Effectiveness, in its Research Subject Matter Expert (SME) team. Woodward takes up his new role next month. More
In the UK, international specialist River Research has reported a £1m increase in sales to c.£2.5m for the last 12 months. The firm says it is also considering expanding overseas, with the US being the most likely location. More
US-based research and consulting firm The Pert Group has appointed Kim Royster as Director of Client Strategy, focusing on the restaurant, hospitality and foodservice industries. More
The world's 25 largest research firms had revenues of $18.8 billion in 2010, up 4.9% on the previous 'dismal' year - a 'very healthy turnaround' according to industry authority Jack Honomichl. However, 'real' revenues were not quite back to their 2008 levels, and some companies continued to shrink. More
GfK has reported sales of EUR 660.1m in sales for the first half of 2011, reflecting 8.0% organic growth year-on-year. Adjusted operating income rose 16.8% (organic 18.0%) to EUR 83.9m. The Group has also announced the acquisition of a 25% stake in US firm MBI. More
WPP agency MediaCom Worldwide has launched a new division focused on global sports sponsorship, MediaCom Sport, and appointed former IMG Consulting exec Marcus John to lead it. More
In the US, in-store monitoring specialist BVI Networks has closed an $8m funding round, which it will use to support further development of its analytics technology. More
In the US, DemandTec - which provides consumer demand management software and analytics - has launched three new services, including an embedded shopper insights dashboard which provides forecasts for defined shopper segments. More
In the US, Nielsen has acquired market response modeling specialist Marketing Analytics Inc., and says the deal will help it to provide FMCG marketers with 'the most complete and timely view of the impact of media and marketing'. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, full-service marketing agency Empower MediaMarketing has acquired data analysis and mining specialist Market Intelligence Group (MIG). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
The co-founders of North of England-based Dipsticks Research, John and Fiona Raglan, have announced they are stepping back from the day-to-day management of the business, which will now be run by their former Operations Director Ivor Knox. More
Consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has promoted Tim Bush to the post of Group President for the Asia Pacific region, working out of its offices in Hong Kong. More
WPP-owned brand specialist Added Value has named Steve Bale as non-Executive Chairman for the Greater China region, with a focus on building consultative relationships and strengthening the 'Oracle Added Value' brand. More
In Australia, word-of-mouth (WoM) marketing specialist Contagious Agency has launched a consumer advocate platform, featuring a proprietary Facebook tracking tool. More
In the US, marcoms firm Luckie & Company has acquired Integrative Logic (IL), which conducts analysis of consumer buying behavior. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
US-based agency Zpryme Research & Consulting has opened a China Insights Practice, a market research division focused on the Chinese consumer and business market. More
Consumer research and trends agency Iconoculture has appointed former Planet Retail researcher Greg Hodge as Director, Marketing Strategist, Global Retail in the UK; and consumer trends specialist Michael McCune as Director, Marketing Strategist, Asia-Pacific, based in the US. More
Ipsos has agreed to acquire Synovate for £525m (EUR 595m), creating the world's third largest market research company. The deal is to be funded with cash, new debt financing, and a rights offering to Ipsos shareholders. More
Retail market intelligence provider SymphonyIRI Group is to work with Wal-Mart to introduce an online shopper insights and collaborative planning platform called 'Customer Advantage'. More
Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to resume sharing consumer data from its Walmart and Sam's Club stores with Nielsen, after a ten-year break. More
In the UK, it has been revealed that Doughty Hanson - which owns the Vue cinema chain - is the mystery company interested in buying Aegis' market research arm Synovate. More
UK insight and marketing group Cello has reported that its research and consulting division has continued to 'show good like-for-like revenue growth' despite the loss of two significant retail research contracts, but has meanwhile made a number of staff redundancies. More
US-based consumer specialist Knowledge Networks has acquired Garcia Research Associates (GRA), a firm which focuses on measuring the growing influence of Latinos on commerce and society in the US. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Oxfordshire-based consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide is planning to open a new office in London in September. More
Gerald Eskin, a co-founder of Information Resources Inc. (IRI) died last week aged 76 after complications from heart surgery, in Iowa, USA. More
GfK is to restructure its business following a major review, and from next January will operate through two new divisions, 'Consumer Choices' and 'Customer Experiences', under the new tagline: 'Own the Future'. More
US-based online marketing firm ChoiceStream has launched an audience targeting platform called CRUNCH, which uses proprietary intent data to predict how individuals will react to brand messages. More
According to a report in the UK press, marcoms group Aegis has received an expression of interest in its market research arm Synovate from private equity group Cinven. More
Nielsen has launched a new approach to helping companies with their product innovation strategies, which it claims will increase the likelihood of new products succeeding to 75%. More
Consumer agency NORM Market Research has launched the 'TalkToParents' panel, comprising more than 2,300 Swedish parents of children between the ages of nought and six. More
In the US, Nielsen has formed an alliance with grocery media network and software firm MyWebGrocer, to develop what it says is the 'First Comprehensive View of US Online Supermarket Purchases.' More
US-based consumer specialist Knowledge Networks has appointed former SymphonyIRI consumer packaged goods strategist David Brown as Vice President in its CPG and retail team. More
Publicis-owned agency MediaVest has opened a 'Human Experience' practice in New York, through which it will aim to explore the drivers of human behavior to create 'greater consumer experiences' for clients' brands. More
US joint venture company Nielsen Catalina Solutions has appointed advertising analytics veteran Leslie Wood for the newly created position of Chief Research Officer, based near New York and reporting to CEO Mike Nazzaro. More
US-based retail market intelligence giant SymphonyIRI has secured an undisclosed amount of investment from private equity group New Mountain Capital, which now becomes its majority shareholder. More
Neuromarketing firm EmSense has partnered with store-based shopper research specialist Fifth Dimension, to measure shoppers' emotional and cognitive engagement when making buying decisions. More
The Board of Aegis Group has confirmed that it is in talks with Ipsos about the possible sale of its market research arm Synovate. Analysts suggest a price of around £500m and the combination would create the world's fourth largest research agency. More
In the UK, foods giant Nestlé has opened a £1m extension to its Insight and Learning Centre in York, featuring an Imax cinema, replica living room and working kitchen, full size convenience store, and digital media area. More
London-based qual agency Firefish has launched a specialist children and families research consultancy, 'The Pineapple Lounge'. The service will be led by Emma Worrollo, who specialises in kids, teens and mother-and-baby research. More
In Germany, Heiko Leipold and Peter Mahn have set up a new agency called mafowerk, based in Nuremberg, which will offer on-demand market research services, trend studies and consumer behavioural analysis. Both men have worked for GfK and for Information Resources (IRI). More
UK agency ETHNOS - which conducts research with people from minority ethnic communities - has rolled out a new panel with more than 20,000 members. More
UK retail stalwart Marks & Spencer is reportedly working on a radical redesign of stores based on analysis of its customer base in each locality, including affluence and demographics. More
UK-based consumer understanding specialist Spring Research has hired John Griffiths as Creative Director and Catalina Cernica as Managing Director. More
In the US, Point-of-Purchase Advertising International (POPAI), a not-for-profit trade association for retail marketers, has launched a multi-mode Shopper Engagement Study which will use neuroscience, eye-tracking and shopper interviews to investigate the power and speed of action of in-store marketing. More
UK-based supermarket giant Tesco has acquired BzzAgent, a US-based social media marketing and analysis company, in a deal thought to be in the region of $60m. The new company will become part of Tesco's subsidiary dunnhumby. More
In the UK, consumer specialist Perception Research Services International (PRS) has appointed former Harris Interactive director Alki Manias as Vice President, Account Manager in its London office. More
GfK has reported a strong first quarter in its 2011 financial year, with consolidated sales up 10.4% to EUR 310.2 million and organic growth of 8.0%. More
Consumer and retail tracking provider The NPD Group has opened a new facility in Athlone, Ireland, for development as a Global IT/Operations Centre. Over the next three years, the firm plans to add another 80 employees to the twenty already based there. More
In the UK, full service agency FreshMinds has made nine new appointments on the back of what it describes as 'record results' with turnover growing by more than 20% in the past six months. More
US customer intelligence firm Market Force Information has recruited 300,000 consumers for the launch of its AnswerForce research panel, developed to tap respondent attitudes and brand awareness as well as identify industry trends. More
Apple is the world's number 1 brand by a distance, adding 84% to last year's valuation to leapfrog mobile o/s rival Google, according to Millward Brown's Brandz index, just published. More
Mark Stevens, formerly Research Director at Australian agency SensoMetrics, has set up his own sensory research agency, Sensory Insights, based in New South Wales. More
In the UK, take-away brand Domino's Pizza is the first to use Arena Media's newly launched 'Architect' tool, which uses the principles of behavioural economics to identify the social, cognitive and emotional factors behind individual purchasing decisions. More
In the UK, healthy food specialist Innocent has promoted former Nunwood Director Iain Leopold to the post of Consumer Insights Manager, following the departure of Joe Goyder to join innovation consultancy Brand Development. More
In the UK, Leatherhead Food Research has launched SenseReach, a consumer feedback tool that can be used to test new product concepts or existing products and services, and compare how they perform against those of the competition. More
Norman Coats, formerly Vice President for Economic and Marketing Research at pet food giant Ralston Purina (now Nestlé Purina), has died a week after being diagnosed with a form of blood cancer. He was 85. More
In the US, Scarborough Research has partnered with multicultural consumer intelligence provider Geoscape to offer in-depth information about Hispanic consumers' buying power, brand loyalty and media preferences. More
In the UK, herb and spice firm McCormick has invested £1.5m in a new Technical Innovation Centre (TIC), which will feature a sensory lab for product evaluation. More
US retail giant Wal-Mart Stores has acquired Kosmix, a technology firm which searches and analyzes social media connections in real-time to deliver customised feedback to users. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the US, price modeling and customer insight firm KSS Retail has updated its PriceStrat solution to include modeling and optimization features based on customer segments. More
In France, research agency CSA has acquired Paris-based Directpanel, which provides access to 50,000 online respondents through its online panel management and survey platform. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the US, food and beverage product innovation specialist The National Food Lab (NFL) has extended its 'Rapid Design Process' co-creation offer to marketers of consumer packaged goods. More
In the US, former ARF leader Joel Rubinson has partnered with product development specialist InsightsNow to develop research tools to help consumer packaged goods (CPG) clients with product innovation. More
In the US, Scarborough Research has appointed Gerardo Guzman as Vice President of Product Management, with a focus on providing solutions for clients to enhance their ROI. More
In the UK, Leapfrog Research & Planning has hired former GlaxoSmithKline marketer Tim Brooks for the new role of Managing Director, with responsibility for helping drive the firm through a period of anticipated growth and expansion. More
GfK has acquired the remaining shares of Macedonian custom research specialist GfK Skopje, of which it already held 51 percent. Terms were not disclosed. More
Shopper marketing consultancy DCActiv has launched a new division in Dubai and named Hugo Mills, previously Diageo's GTME General Manager for the Gulf, as MD of its Global Travel Retail division (DCActiv GTR). More
For the financial year 2010, GfK has reported an 11.1% rise in income to a record EUR 1.29 billion. Adjusted operating income climbed from EUR 147.2m to EUR 185.0m with operating margin also at a historical high, 14.3%. More
In the US, SymphonyIRI has expanded beyond the consumer products goods (CPG), retail and healthcare categories, to offer its Symphony Analytics platform to a broader range of clients, including those in the apparel and financial services sectors. More
TNS has appointed Ivan Browne as Head of its Retail & Shopper Sector, based in London. He leaves GfK NOP, where he served as Business Development Director for the consumer products and retail division. More
French financier Vincent Bolloré has indicated that he may be willing to sell his 26.5% stake in Synovate's parent firm Aegis, according to a report in the UK's Guardian newspaper. More
In the UK, consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide has promoted Mark Sismey to the newly created role of Innovation Director, tasked with identifying, evaluating and delivering the latest technology and data collection tools. More
Tuesday afternoon kicked off with a session on researching children's buying behaviour, with speakers mapping out some of the minefield it represents, before a highly-informed audience. Teresa Lynch reports. More
Global private equity firm The Riverside Company has acquired Toronto-based shopper marketing agency Pareto in a share purchase deal valued at $CAN 125m. More
Millward Brown's qual company Firefly has appointed Audrey Anand as Senior Strategic and Creative Director, UK. Anand has spent the last eight years as an independent consultant. More
In the US DemandTec - which provides consumer demand management software and analytics - has acquired predictive analytics software developer M-Factor, which works with clients in the consumer products sector. Terms were not disclosed. More
US-based Omnicom has integrated its Whybin TBWA Tequila ad agency into its shopper marketing agency brand Integer, which it has launched in Australia with branches in both Sydney and Melbourne. More
Supermarket giant Tesco has refused to pass on its Clubcard data to the UK Government, which is requesting companies hand over their customer data as part of a plan to help compile the national census. More
In the US, consumer research specialist Experian Simmons has partnered with the Latinum Network to tap its understanding of Hispanic consumers. More
In the US, media measurement and analytics firm TRA has hired former Arbitron sales leader Pierre Bouvard as SVP of Media Sales. The company has also appointed Kelly Mead and Susan Cuccinello as Vice Presidents. More
Manhattan-based quant market research specialist Eric Marder Associates (EMA) is to close after more than 50 years in business. Founder Eric Marder, who is now in his 80s, has decided it's time to 'pursue other interests'. More
German-based customer insight firm Emnos has opened a new office in Chicago, led by Adam Holyk who was previously Vice President Client Solutions at dunnhumbyUSA. More
US retail giant Wal-Mart Stores has promoted Cindy Davis to the position of Executive Vice President of Global Consumer Insights, leading a newly created team which will analyze broad consumer trends and provide insight into customer needs. More
Market Probe has announced a major push into key developing countries with the launch of strategic partnerships around the globe; a new office in Hong Kong; senior hires for brand equity and customer research; and development of a new customer advocacy model. More
US-based Kinesis Survey Technologies has added embedded barcode scanning technology to its latest multi-function mobile research app. More
GfK CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) has expanded its use of shopper specific technology by investing in Tobii Technology's entire range of eye tracking tools to perform projection, on-screen and real world studies in lab and shopping environments. More
In the US, retail specialist SymphonyIRI has partnered with Synovate to create HispanicLink - a report that provides a view of Hispanic shoppers and their current $950 billion spending power. More
Kantar Media has launched an Irish sponsorship division, complementing existing offerings in the UK, France, Spain and China. More
Consumer insight and sensory specialist MMR Research Worldwide has appointed nine new recruits for its UK and US operations, since the start of the year. More
In France, WPP's brand development and marketing insight consultancy Added Value has appointed Thomas Fratacci Managing Director, as CEO Jonathan Hall leaves to become Executive Vice President, Managing Director of Cheskin Added Value (USA). More
Data and analytics specialist Experian Marketing Services has launched an online system that combines syndicated and custom MR from its consumer research arm Experian Simmons with analytic tools and reports. More
Tokyo-based online specialist Research Panel Asia (RPA) has added a Japanese consumer behavior database to its 'LifeStyle Index' ASP service, previously focused on China. More
In the US, fast food giant McDonald's has promoted Kevin Newell to the new position of Executive Vice President - Global Chief Brand Officer, responsible for marketing, consumer insights, menu innovation and restaurant design. More
Manufacturing giant Kraft Foods has partnered with chip maker Intel to develop a self-service kiosk housing digital signage, which scans shoppers' faces and then (wait for it...) recommends what they should cook for dinner. More
In the US, Scarborough Research - the joint venture between Nielsen and Arbitron - has appointed former Nielsen Online SVP Brian Condon as EVP, Commercial Development. More
In the US, NSI Marketing Services has acquired RAZOR - a strategic marketing and customer engagement agency which focuses on using customer analytics and other data to drive consumer transactions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
Kantar-owned global trend research consultancy The Futures Company (TFC) has partnered with sister firm TNS to serve multinational and local clients in India. More
Synovate has opened an office in Geneva, Switzerland to house a team of twelve. They include existing sales and account management staff based in the city, as well as staff who have relocated from the firm's offices in France and the Netherlands. More
Retail behaviour research specialist Shoppercentric has appointed former Marks & Spencer Head of Customer Insight Susie Spencer as a Director. More
Database marketing solutions firm MBS, a subsidiary of GSI Commerce, is partnering with luxury market research and consulting group the Luxury Institute to help clients with enterprise-wide cultural CRM initiatives in the sector. More
In the UK, branding specialists Simon Coker and Nick Burrows have launched Brand Spirit - a new agency which will connect internal and external brand building, while profiling customers' attitudes, motivations and behaviours. More
US confectionery giant Hershey's is joining forces with the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology to develop a sensory science and consumer research program including a consumer taste test laboratory. More
Ipsos MORI has appointed Lindsay Cowan, formerly TNS Research International's Global Director of Shopper Insight, as Head of UK Retail and Shopper. More
US-based business intelligence (BI) provider QuantiSense has unveiled the latest version of its retail software, with analytics covering store conversion, average sale price, employee productivity and performance, and store comparison. More
In the US comScore, dunnhumbyUSA and Accenture have partnered to study the link between consumers' usage of brand web sites and their in-store brand buying behavior. More
In the UK, former TNS Healthcare colleagues Steve Lowery and Philippa Hammerton have launched Red Leaf Research - a full service MR consultancy with specialist expertise in the healthcare and consumer sectors. More
UK consultancy Simpson Carpenter has launched a new healthcare and pharmaceutical research division, headed by Anna Sawka who joins from Aequus Research. Further appointments are planned for early 2011. More
In Japan, online research firm Macromill has partnered with ad and marketing services agencies Hakuhodo and Tokyu to form a new subsidiary which will collect and sell data on consumer commodity buying in Tokyo. More
Consumer specialist Knowledge Networks (KN) is to more than double the number of young adults (ages 18 to 24) on its online KnowledgePanel, and increase its representation of Hispanics by more than 40% during the year. More
In the US, Synovate has partnered with Duke University to create the 'Duke/Synovate Shopper Insights Center for Leadership and Innovation', which will focus on advancing research into shopper insights and marketing. More
In the US, media strategy and measurement agency Geomentum has appointed former Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) leader Sean Finnegan as CEO, and Tony Bombacino as President/Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). More
In the US, product innovation and development specialist InsightsNow has expanded its Consumer & Marketing Science Division with the appointment of three consultants. More
TNS has acquired Belgian shopper research specialist Retail Insights, and appointed its CEO Kristien Laureys to head up the Retail Insights division within TNS Belgium. More
In the US, the NPD Group has launched a suite of advanced analytics products which tap into its proprietary item-level tracking information. It has also hired former SymphonyIRI exec John Deputato for the newly created role of Senior Vice President for Advanced Analytics. More
International youth research specialist The Sound Research has hired Lindsey Boyle as Vice President and Head of its Vancouver office, where she will oversee day-to-day operations for the West Coast HQ and help build the West Coast business. More
In the US, marcoms firm The Brandon Agency has launched the 'Why We Buy' research panel, which will offer clients a better understanding of consumers' minds, buying patterns and history. More
In Australia, shopper activation agencies Evocatif and iCRE8 have joined forces to expand parent firm STW Group's retail capabilities. More
Marcoms group Photon has added to the remit of Matthew Melhuish, its Head of Australian agencies, who will now oversee its portfolio of field marketing companies including a number of data collection and analytics firms. More
In the US, Nielsen/Arbitron joint venture Scarborough Research has hired Nielsen veteran Tom Drouillard as President and CEO, succeeding Gregg Lindner who has moved to Arbitron as Chief Research Officer. More
Aegis-owned Synovate is to further expand its presence in Russia by acquiring a majority stake in media research specialist COMCON. Terms were not disclosed, but Synovate will have the option to buy 100% of COMCON in 2015. More
Kantar has increased the size of its Worldpanel in the UK by 20%, to include data from 30,000 households by the end of 2011. The firm has also announced other enhancements to the overall Worldpanel service. More
In the US, Management Science Associates (MSA) and Paradigm Sample have launched the Convenience Consumer Insights Panel (cci Panel), which gathers consumer information from convenience store (C-store) shoppers. More
In the US, Automated Media Services (AMS) has launched video verification technology providing audited confirmation of digital video play and performance. More
In Australia, Clarity Strategic Research has appointed qual-quant specialist Sam Blaxland as a Director, focusing on the B2B, telecoms, fmcg, finance and retail sectors. More
In the UK, Engage Research has announced a new approach to the development of creative ads, bringing consumers into the research process at an earlier stage where they are more likely to inspire 'better, braver brand advertising'. More
UK-based Nunwood has launched a league table of national and international brands rated on customer experience. Online retail giant Amazon tops the overall list, based on feedback from 5,500 consumers. More
GfK has announced third quarter organic sales growth of 9.2%, up from an already strong 8.0% in the second quarter and 5.3% in the first quarter; and adjusted operating income up 27% to EUR 48.5m. More
Leeds, UK-based youth research and marketing strategist Dubit has added Claire Jolley, Jen Holmes and John Crichton to its research team; and has promoted Jonathan Clough to the role of Head of Online Research Services. More
Customer engagement technology specialist Alterian has announced a multi-year partnership with Experian Marketing Services to provide clients with a solution integrating data from multiple channels into a centralized database. More
In Windsor, UK, Leapfrog Research & Planning has announced 11% revenue growth over the past year, and says it aims for another ten percent over the next 12 months by extending its research programmes in the UK, the US and across Europe and Asia Pacific. More
Ahead of its official financial report which will be published on 15th November, GfK has announced a 10.8% revenue increase to EUR 931m for the first nine months of 2010 (prior year: EUR 840.2m), of which 7.4% is attributable to organic sales growth. More
In London, WPP-owned consulting business Kantar Retail has appointed Bryan Roberts as Director, Retail Insights for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). More
In the US, GfK has acquired marketing consultancy Interscope, which helps manufacturers and retailers understand the shopper landscape through a mix of analytics and creative ideas. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
In the UK, dunnhumby founders Edwina Dunn and Clive Humby are to step down as Chairman and CEO and take on non-exec roles, as company veteran Simon Hay takes on leadership of the firm next March. More
Synovate has appointed Huey Lam as Commercial Director of Synovate Retail Performance in China, and Will Gordon as Senior Vice President, Brand & Communication in the US. More
In the US, a study conducted by multicultural market research specialist New American Dimensions has identified four distinct female Latina shopper archetypes, differentiated in terms of their attitudes, values, demographics and shopping behavior. More
In the UK, TNS has acquired retail and manufacturer research specialist instorefactor, and merged it into its Retail and Shopper business. Terms were not disclosed. More
In the UK, Peter Luff has been appointed as Managing Director of Synovate Retail Performance (formerly SPSL), whose founders Paul Tombs and Dominic McGuiness will be leaving at the end of the year to 'pursue their entrepreneurial careers'. More
Panels and MR technology firm Toluna has added social media features to its branded online community management product PanelPortal, to enable community members to interact with each other and provide additional insight for panel owners. More
In the UK, consumer insight and market research specialist Engage Research has doubled its sales for the year ending 31 March 2010, with turnover up from £1.2m in 2008 to £2.5m in 2009. More
In Australia, in-store ad provider TorchMedia has partnered with Nielsen to design a solution which provides information from different shopper segments across a wide range of demographics, combined with purchasing behaviour data at product category level. More
Research Panel Asia (RPA) has opened its first office in the US in Los Angeles, to support clients based in North America. More
In the UK, Creston-owned ICM Research has hired Ipsos MORI's former retail and shopper head Nathan Bartlett as a Director in its Retail team, and former TNS consultant David Perry as Project Director in its Financial team. More
Newly merged agencies SPA and Future Thinking have expanded in Europe with the appointment of Adeline Baret to head a new Paris office. More
In the UK, full service agency JRA Research has appointed Andy Grout and Matt Coggan as Joint Managing Partners, joining Terry Wagstaff and Paul Summers on the Board. More
In the US, technology and media company Active Network has launched a panel of consumers with an active lifestyle, via an alliance with research firm Survey.com. More
UK-based supermarket Tesco is Thailand's biggest grocery chain and is now one of four companies bidding for the Thai assets of Carrefour, after the French giant took the tough decision to pull out of a number of Asian markets. In part, Tesco's success is a victory for market research. More
Minneapolis, USA-based consumer research and consultancy firm Iconoculture has launched an Indian advisory service. More
In New York, global brand and communications research agency Hall & Partners has launched a Shopper Insights and Shopper Engager division, headed by industry specialist Vanessa Hartnoll. More
Harris Interactive has introduced the Body Mass Index (BMI) Speciality Panel, to provide clients with information about underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese US adults. More
WPP's brand activation agency network G2 has taken a majority stake in Chinese shopper marketing consultancy DPI. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
UK-based consultancy Nunwood has hired former Asda consumer specialist Craig Ryder as Global Head of Shopper Insight, Analytics and Activation. More
Retail analytics solutions provider Manthan Systems has opened a new office in Melbourne, which will support demand for the firm's ARC Retail Business Intelligence products in Australia and New Zealand. More
New York-based GfK Roper Consulting has added a visual component to its US consumer trends service GfK Roper Reports, promising an enhanced understanding of consumers' motivations and behaviors. More
In the US, Target Research Group has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Diane Parus as Senior Vice President. More
UK-based transaction data specialist Beyond Analysis has appointed former Experian executive Lisa Didsbury as Director of Decision Sciences, responsible for leading the data analytics team and supporting the firm's growth plans over the next three years. More
Fast food giant McDonald's has promoted UK President and CEO Steve Easterbrook to the newly-created position of Executive Vice President and Global Chief Brand Officer, responsible for marketing, menu innovation, consumer insights and other global brand assets. More
WPP's insight division Kantar has appointed panel specialist Renee Smith as Chief Research Officer in the US, and has moved Tim Kelsall to the role of SVP, Client Strategy, Innovation and Delivery at its brand research division Millward Brown, in the UK. More
Market Insight Corporation - which captures real-time shopper preferences through its consumer web site MyProductAdvisor.com - has formed an Asian-based company, Market Insight (Asia) Limited, through which it plans to extend its services in the region. More
Communispace - which creates online customer insight communities - has reported a 29% increase in revenue for the first half of 2010, with sales up to $22.5m from $17.4m in the prior year period. The company has also added several new tools to its product portfolio. More
Investment firm Revelry Brands has taken a minority stake in New York-based analytics company Data Garden, which will use the financing to grow sales, expand marketing and increase awareness. Terms were not disclosed. More
UK-based Dunnhumby - the data firm behind the Tesco Clubcard loyalty scheme - has paid a £17.5m dividend to Edwina Dunn and Clive Humby, the husband and wife team who founded the business back in 1989. More
GfK has raised its 2010 sales and income expectations following a 12.3% rise in second quarter sales to EUR 328.7m, and a 9.4% rise in first half sales to EUR 609.6m. The firm now expects a 6% rise in sales for the year, which is double its original projection. More
In the UK, Harris Interactive has appointed Gerardine Padbury as Senior Consultant in its Consumer Research division, to provide research solutions to the FMCG market. More
Caroline Osborne has been appointed Director of GfK NOP Consumer Products & Retail, with a particular remit to enhance the company's shopper insight, customer satisfaction, segmentation and U&A offers. More
In the US, global fragrance and flavouring supplier Symrise has promoted Frank Rapacki to the position of Director, Consumer Insights, and appointed Ian Björn Thurston as Marketing Communications Manager. More
Two former employees of UK agency Holden Pearmain have launched their own company, Impact Research. Darryl Swift and Michael Brainch will focus initially on clients in the utilities, retail and FMCG sectors. More
UK-based firm The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has changed its name to Future Thinking and opened its first office in the US under the leadership of George Ciardi, who becomes US President and Global Head of Volumetric Forecasting. More
Millward Brown qual division Firefly has hired Peter Foster as Senior Account Director, based in Melbourne. More
Global research group Ipsos has reported a very strong performance for the first six months of 2010, with revenue up 18.1% to EUR 528.8m (organic growth 7.7%) and adjusted net profit up 33.7% to EUR 32.0m. More
Oregon, US-based CPG research firm InsightsNow, Inc. has promoted Jason McKerr to the role of Vice President of Information Services. Earlier this month, the firm announced revenue growth of 54% in 2009. More
Events and publishing group Informa, the parent of Datamonitor, has released results for the first half of 2010, including pre-tax profit more than doubled despite a slight drop in revenue. In the PCI division, which includes Datamonitor, revenues fell 3.8% to £178.5m but margins held up. More
Consumer Packaged Goods specialist MMR Research Worldwide has developed 'SURF', a new range optimisation tool to help clients optimise the size and structure of their product ranges. More
In the UK, Cello's Research and Consulting division has returned like-for-like income growth for the first half of the year, driven by 'continued robustness' in client activity levels, most notably in pharma and health-related sectors, as well as international work. More
GfK has promoted Julia Beaver to the position of Head of GfK NOP Research Panels, which specialises in continuous or longitudinal consumer panels. Most recently, Beaver was Deputy MD at GfK Financial. More
In India, a team of entrepreneurs have launched High Beam Global - a market research data collection and marketing consulting firm specialising in the healthcare, FMCG and technology sectors. More
In the US, Vovici's former Chairman and CEO Dean Wiltse has set up a mobile measurement agency called Thumbspeak, to enable businesses to reach mobile audiences and gain insights from hard-to-reach consumers. More
London-based marcoms agency Engine has launched a new insight and research unit to provide clients with an analysis of why and how consumers make choices. More
UK research agency Incite has appointed three new members to its team, including former RI Board member Mark Yeomans, who has joined as a Director from Jigsaw Research. More
GfK Consumer has rolled out its first 'Future Buy' annual study of US shopping behaviors based on a mix of research methodologies, through which it has identified a new breed of consumer known as 'XTreme Shoppers'. More
Minneapolis-based consumer research and trend spotting specialist Iconoculture has introduced a Consumer Advisory Service offering insights for UK-focused marketing initiatives. More
GfK has become the first foreign market research company to be granted a license to open a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. The firm has also opened a branch in Kenya, acquired the outstanding shares of GfK Mode in India and GfK Kynetec in the UK, and increased its stake in Shopping Brasil. More
US-based neuromarketing agency NeuroFocus has developed the Luxury Perceptual Framework (LPF), to detect consumers' perception of what constitutes 'luxury' in terms of clients' brands, products, packaging, in-store marketing, advertising and customer service. More
In the UK, Harris Interactive has launched a new approach to analysing the way people make purchase decisions across a wide range of products and service categories. More
Mediabrands, part of marketing services giant Interpublic Group, is launching a specialist shopper marketing agency, ShelfLife, to be headed by John Ross, currently President of the IPG Emerging Media Lab. More
In New York, media measurement firm TRA has signed an agreement to license technology from marketing ROI specialist Media Trust, in order to enhance its Media TRAnalytics system, which matches household TV consumption and purchase data. More
Global brand and communications research agency Hall & Partners has rolled outs its Engager tool in the US. The service measures how people think and feel about brands, and how they engage with them. More
UK FMCG and customer experience researcher The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has moved to larger premises in the city, while appointing former Ipsos MORI AD Emma Baret and promoting three of its team to the UK Board. More
In the US, a team of consumer marketers and market researchers have launched skuuber.com; a DIY online tool to aid consumer product market analysis. More
GfK has appointed Colm Mallon as Territory Manager Ireland in its Retail and Technology division, responsible for servicing manufacturer clients and retailers and developing panels in the Irish market. More
In the US, the Shot Spirits Corporation has launched a hospitality industry tool which provides market level competitive benchmarking information for restaurants, bars and hotels. More
In the US, Louis Pappalardo - the founder and President of consumer market research agency Trendata - has died at the age of 78, following a battle with cancer. More
In Russia, FMCG research specialist Business Analytica is discontinuing its retail audit subscription-based service, which has provided consumer marketers and business analysts with data for more than 15 years. The firm is refocusing on more economical alternatives. More
US research technology specialist Nimbus has added brainwave measurement to its virtual shopping and eye-tracking tool, to capture consumers' responses at the subconscious level. More
Millward Brown has moved Tim Wragg into the new position of CEO - Europe, following last year's integration of its UK and Ireland business with mainland European operations, and the formation of a pan-European Board. More
NeuroFocus has introduced what it describes as 'breakthrough 3D virtual store technology', to enable companies to test product designs, packaging and entire store layouts in three dimensions. More
US retail market intelligence giant IRI has promoted company veteran Cary Schneider to the position of EVP of European Operations and Transformation, reporting to President Nigel Howlett. More
In the US, Copernicus Marketing Consulting and Research has introduced a 'digitally enhanced' approach to market segmentation that it claims will help marketers understand and react to the digital behaviors of buyers in their category or industry. More
Industry association IAB Europe has partnered with Google to launch a new tool which provides agencies and advertisers with consumer information across 27 countries and 36 product categories. More
In Melbourne, Australia, Millward Brown has re-hired Martin Attwood as Senior Account Director. Most recently, he was Consumer and Shopper Insights Manager for Schweppes Australia. More
Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) has partnered with eye tracking technology firm Tobii Technology to collaborate on product innovations and conduct package and shelf testing on a global basis. More
US-based media measurement firm TRA has received a $10m injection of funds from Intel Capital, the global investment wing of the giant chip maker. The series-C round also includes $8.2m from other companies including existing investors Arbitron and WPP. More
Simpson Carpenter has hired Abi Markey, former Deputy MD of specialist qual agency Directions Research & Marketing to head up the agency's qualitative team. More
Brand specialist Added Value has strengthened its senior team in North America with three appointments. Steve Diller and Steve Rowe move in from elsewhere in the group as SVP, Brand Development & Innovation and VP, Brand Development & Innovation respectively; while Aliza Pollack joins as VP Qualitative. More
Missouri-based agribusiness consultancy AgriThority has announced the extension of its services into India via a strategic alliance with the SCS Group, whose services include agriculture marketing research and test marketing. More
In the US, GfK subsidiary Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) has re-branded as GfK MRI, in a move which it says reinforces its connection with its parent company. More
UK researchers James Lovett and Mark Pugh have launched Immerse, an agency promising a 'refreshing & rejuvenated approach to the traditional client-agency relationship'. More
In the US, outsourced sales and marketing specialist MarketStar and retail MR agency The NPD Group have partnered to launch a product to determine the most efficient marketing programs to grow retail presence. More
GfK claims to be back on track with an increase in both Q1 sales and income. During the first quarter of 2010, the global group reported a 6.1% sales increase to EUR 280.9m from Q1 2009, up 5.2% in organic terms. Income rose 71.2% to EUR 25.3m during the period. More
Who says researchers have to slum it in budget locations till the recovery is secure? Our Features Editor Teresa Lynch reports from a retail research conference in a venue so sumptuous that the Chairman described it as 'the kind of place that doesn't normally let in people like us'. More
In the UK, consumer insight and market research specialist Engage Research has appointed YouGov's former Head of Qualitative Research Andy Barker as a Director. More
In the US, Burger King Corporation has appointed former Coca-Cola marketer Natalia Franco as Global Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for overseeing consumer insights, product innovation and the development and communication of the brand's global marketing and ad strategies. More
Wimbledon, UK-based survey research consultancy Simpson Carpenter has appointed Rachael Fraser as Director of its Retail and Consumer team. More
In the UK, online database and analysis firm Datamonitor Group has acquired packaging research specialist Pack-Track. Terms were not disclosed. More
GfK Kynetec - which supplies market research for the crop protection, biotech and animal health industries - has acquired the non-crop business of Agricultural Information Services (AIS), to enable it to act as the sole supplier of data on crop protection products usage. More
Individuals' exposure to media matching their unconscious 'visual desires' triggers something akin to love at first sight and stirs a 'buying instinct' within them, according to results published by specialist consultancy Visual Targeting. More
The founders of US-based market research agency Iconoculture have left to launch a new firm which will study consumer trends in those countries that make up the G-20. More
The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has revealed plans to expand beyond its UK home with new offices in North America and mainland Europe in the summer; and has shuffled its senior management to ready itself for the move. More
Canada-based custom panels and interactive research firm Vision Critical has announced two senior promotions within its Retail practice. Janet Lazaris has added the title of EVP to that of MD of the practice, while Dara St. Louis becomes SVP. More
Joan Koh has been promoted to the position of Managing Director of Nielsen in Singapore, after more than a decade with the firm. She replaces Paul Richmond, who has taken on the role of regional Managing Director of Retail Services and Product Leadership. More
Retail market intelligence giant SymphonyIRI has launched a web-based solution designed to provide CPG clients with a 360-degree view of their brand performance against past marketing plans. More
TNS and Research and Marketing Services (RMS) have formed an agreement to provide customized research in West Africa. More
Australian insights consultancy The Leading Edge has restructured its Sydney-based business with the return of overseas executives, internal promotions and the appointment of a new senior specialist. More
Information Resources, Inc. is changing its name to SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. The company says the move reflects its expansion into new types of solution including predictive, automated analytics; technology platforms; and strategic consulting services. More
Research Panel Asia's newly established Korean subsidiary is up and running, with the official launch of its 'Panel Now' service site. More
Aegis, Synovate's parent company, is raising funds through the issue of a convertible bond for c.£190m, which it plans to use to make acquisitions in the US and China. More
London-based consumer research agency rdsi has moved its Leeds office to larger premises, and promoted Jenni Welling and John Horgan to SRE positions. More
In Germany, Thomas Andresen and Ulrich Hertfelder have launched Mark Metrics, a consultancy which will analyse how successful brands differ from unsuccessful brands. More
Nielsen has acquired Munich-based market research consulting firm USP Market Intelligence, which focuses on consumer goods such as tobacco, confectionery and beverages in Germany and Austria. Terms were not disclosed. More
Analyst firm Planet Retail has announced the appointment of Brian Wisniewski as Senior Vice President, North America, based in the region's HQ in Park Ridge, near Chicago. More
Kenya-based marketing firm Scangroup Limited and South Africa's Smollan Group have launched a joint venture to serve the East Africa region of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. More
Online women's opinion specialist SheSpeaks has announced the launch of 'Brand Advisory Communities,' which it says will connect participating brands with targeted communities of 2,000 or more consumers for 12-month plus programs providing quant and qual insights. More
River Research has expanded to new custom-designed premises in Soho, London, following its launch in Autumn 2008 and subsequent increase in headcount to 10 staff. More
In London, Howdo Research, a new consultancy established in the autumn by former NOP and JRA exec Simon Cheshire, is reporting a buoyant start to business. More
Prosper Business Development - parent of US-based BIGresearch - has launched ProsperChina.com, to provide information and consumer insights for firms marketing products and services in China, and Chinese companies looking for information about the US market. More
In the UK, former Innocent Drinks Head of Consumer Insights Jan Worsley has joined The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) as Associate Director, to work with the firms' food and drink clients. More
In the US, marketer Penny Redlin has launched Insights Discovered, a consulting company focusing exclusively on the children's products market. More
In New York, marketing services firm Omnicom Group has launched a new agency to offer strategy, activation and metrics services to retail marketers at a local level. More
The Nielsen Company has announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009. Revenue was almost exactly level with the previous year ($4,806m) but up 4% if currency fluctuations are excluded. More
GfK has reported a 4.6% decline in 2009 sales to EUR 1,164m, taking into account acquisitions and currency effects. However, for the fourth quarter, the group recorded sales of EUR 324m, compared with EUR 282m in Q3. More
In the UK, online research specialist YouGov has developed a set of qualitative research services to supplement its regular omnibus surveys. More
Ipsos has signed an agreement to acquire a 25% stake in Portuguese research firm Apeme (área de Planeamento e Estudos de Mercado), with the option to buy the remaining 75% in five years. More
TNS has formalised its partnership with qual and quant agency Aftab Associates, to offer services in Pakistan and Afghanistan under the brand name of TNS-Aftab. More
Two former global agency execs have founded abn Research, a consultancy focused on market research among Asian consumers and based in Bangkok, Thailand. More
Analytics firm Metrics Marketing has opened a 'one-of-a-kind' 2,100 square-foot research lab in Ohio, providing observers with a variety of hidden camera angles, real-time audiovisual monitoring and camera views on projected and flat-screen displays. More
Canadian-based custom panel and technology firm Vision Critical has appointed Rob Berger to its senior management team, as Senior Vice President of US Sales for Springboard America, its online consumer research platform. More
Business processes management specialist Genpact has acquired Symphony Marketing Solutions (SMS), a provider of analytics and data management services with expertise in the retail, pharma and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries. More
In the US, Market Fusion Analytics (MFA) has introduced a suite of solutions that quantifies the impact of a variety of factors on in-store traffic. More
US provider Digital Research Inc (DRI) has introduced a community platform called Waggle Omnibus, for use in online qualitative research. More
Global agency Illuminas has moved its China office across the Huangpu river to the new Lujiazui financial sector in Pudong, Shanghai's central business district. More
In its second rebrand of the week, Kantar has re-named the TNS Worldpanel network as Kantar Worldpanel. Earlier in the week the group rebranded its media assets. More
Experian Simmons, the database group's US research subsidiary known for 'The Voice of the American Consumer', has launched a weekly syndicated consumer trends insights service for ad and media clients, DataStream(SM). More
John Shanahan, founder and CEO of market research agency Colmar Brunton Australia is to become Executive Chairman of the Colmar Brunton Group, as his firm announces the acquisition of benchmarking firm, The Advantage Group International (AGI). More
In London, Krish Kara, Bob Dance and Carol Ashby have joined forces to open KDA Insights; a new consumer research agency. More
UK-headquartered dmrkynetec - which specialises in market research for the crop protection, biotech and animal health industries - will now operate as GfK Kynetec, following its acquisition by GfK Group. More
Retail market intelligence giant Information Resources Inc (IRI) is integrating its existing modeling services into the model and simulation tool capabilities provided by its Hendry (IRI) Market Structure division, to provide marketers with a single source for all modeling data. More
In London, a new innovation agency has been opened by Calum Watson, Marco-Pierre White's former Executive Head Chef and Director of Operations; and marcoms specialist Greg Wixted. The Food Nursery will provide NPD and new ideas research to the food industry. More
In New York, real-time consumer behavior specialist First Insight has unveiled the latest version of its Virtual Customer Viewpoint (VCV) solution, which promises to help retailers improve product selections, forecast future sales and assess price points. More
dunnhumby has acquired KSS Retail, which provides price modelling and optimization solutions for retailers worldwide. More
Media buyer Carat Ireland and market research firm iReach have launched a new monthly study examining Irish online consumer issues and trends. More
Online measurement firm comScore and retail market intelligence giant IRI (Information Resources, Inc) have launched a new solution to measure the effect of online ad campaigns on sales of consumer packaged goods (CPG). More
Canadian-based custom panel and technology specialist Vision Critical has overhauled its ShelfsetPlus product, to enable clients to field complex virtual shopping exercises in less time, while increasing respondent engagement. More
Nielsen has formed a joint venture with St. Petersburg, Florida-based consumer-driven print communications firm Catalina Marketing Corporation, addressing the current hot topic of linking marketing exposure with purchasing behaviour. More
UK customer insight and database management firm CDMS is rebranding under the name of Transactis, the transactional data provider it bought just under a year ago; and restructuring as it merges with the acquired firm. More
Sustainability specialist Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) and GfK subsidiary Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) have announced the integration of the former's LOHAS consumer segmentation model with the latter's Survey of the American Consumer database. More
The Nielsen Company has promoted Eva Leung to the position of Executive Director, Retail Measurement, Hong Kong, replacing Angel Young who has moved to a regional role within the firm.. She was previously Director, Client Service, Retail Measurement. More
Retail market intelligence giant IRI (Information Resources, Inc.) has enhanced its Consumer and Shopper Insights platforms with a series of new digital media solutions. Partners including [x+1] and Dynamic Logic have already announced new offers based on the technology. More
US-based population estimate firm Synergos Technologies Inc. (STI) has launched a new data product, STI: Market Outlook, which measures annual retail sales and expenditures by common retail categories and product lines, helping clients to target unmet consumer demand. More
Havas-owned ad agency group Euro RSCG has launched a practice to help clients understand shopper behavior, and develop brand messages from the insights gained. More
In India, Bangalore-based Manthan Systems, which develops business intelligence and analytics for the retail and consumer packaged goods industries, has raised $15m in Series B funding. More
UK-based GuestTek International has sold its 360Ý customer insight tool GuestMetrics to the Shot Spirits Corporation in the US for $5m of the drinks company's shares. More
US technology media, events, and research company International Data Group (IDG) has launched a tool to track social media conversations around topics and brands to measure sentiment and engagement over time. More
Nielsen's group revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were down 1% to $1.25bn from the same period last year. CFO Brian West described the quarter as having been 'steady'. More
Kantar Media has expanded its Global Target Group Index (TGI) Network of syndicated single-source marketing and media studies, following parent WPP's acquisition of TNS. More
New York-based neuroscience firm Buyology has shifted its approach to help marketers tap into consumer's non-conscious decision making process. More
Harris Interactive has partnered with innovation consultancy Ideas To Go (ITG) to enable clients to explore, create concepts for, and test new products. More
In the UK, Review Centre, which provides independent product and service reviews, is to create a consumer research panel which will provide marketers and researchers with access to the opinions of its four million monthly users. More
Japanese online panel supplier Research Panel has partnered with Korean agency Trend Monitor to provide a multi-Asian country consumer research service. More
In the UK, research agency EasyInsites is to partner with online parenting club Bounty to build a young family panel with which to conduct bi-monthly research. More
In Australia, former Galaxy Research Director Chris Lonergan has launched his own full service market research agency, which he says will 'marry old school rigour' with new technology and a thorough understanding of business issues. More
The biggest new MrWeb section in nine years opens today with launch articles from five research luminaries. 'MRT' is an online home for custom panel builders, mobile researchers, data miners, neuromarketers and many others at the leading edge of what we broadly define as 'MR'. More
UK retail giant Asda plans to 'empower' consumers by enabling them to get involved in every aspect of the business - from product development to the look and feel of packaging. More
UK agency Leapfrog Research & Planning has restructured to create three distinct business areas and reorganised its senior management team to oversee the changes, which are designed to optimize growth and client service. More
Retail research and brand specialist dunnhumbyUSA has announced senior changes as it continues its rapid growth. Stuart Aitken joins as COO and will assume management of dunnhumbyUSA from CEO Simon Hay; and Gary Cofer has joined as Global EVP / Manufacturer Practice Leader. More
TNS Magasin has launched a service focusing on understanding shoppers who don't buy the products in front of them, identifying and analysing attrition amongst shoppers at every stage of the process. More
Synovate has expanded its Retail Performance shopper counting and analytics business across Europe, the Americas and Asia; and appointed a 'Business Development champion' for each of these three regions. More
In the US, marketing agency Mercury has partnered with customer analytics firm CadenceQuest to deliver a self-service platform that provides in-depth information about customer behaviour to marketing and merchandising decision makers. More
UK agency Ci Research has formed a new retail division, which it says will provide clients with access to team members' client-side and agency-side retail market research expertise. More
A New York business school has set up a research group to develop algorithms and techniques which will classify, predict and more accurately describe the purchasing behaviour of consumers. More
US health, wellness and sustainability researcher the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) is to expand its LOHAS consumer segmentation model to provide clients with eight years of trended data. More
Business intelligence (BI) provider QuantiSense has partnered with analytics specialist Netezza to deliver intelligence and analytics applications developed exclusively for the retail industry. More
Synovate parent Aegis has reported an 86% drop in first half pre-tax profits to £6.6m despite growing revenues by 4.8%. The research agency itself made an underlying operating loss of £3.2m in the first half, compared with a £7.9m profit a year earlier. More
In the US, consumer research firm Iconoculture has launched a service to reveal how consumers' values influence their packaging preferences. It will be run by two newly appointed industry veterans with a combination of nearly 50 years' packaging expertise. More
In the US, Nielsen and retail analytics agency Information Resources Inc (IRI) have formed a new firm which will recruit, maintain and process data from a common set of households to support the Nielsen Homescan and IRI Consumer Network panels. More
Shopper behaviour consultancy TNS Magasin has combined EEG (electroencephalography) and eye tracking technologies to capture shoppers' emotional and cognitive responses at what it describes as 'an unprecedented level of detail'. More
In the US, digital marketing agency Tribal Fusion has launched a service using advanced analytics to measure the effect of online advertising on offline purchasing decisions. More
In the UK, Nielsen has taken a stake in CGA Strategy - which offers market intelligence for retailers in pubs and bars, and for drinks brand owners - while CGA has taken over Nielsen's sales tracking activities in the sector. Terms were not disclosed. More
German agricultural MR specialist Kleffmann Group has partnered with XS Inc - a firm which produces North American ag retailer point-of-sale data - to develop a new suite of market research and intelligence services. More
London-based business intelligence firm StrategyEye has announced a strategic partnership with specialist MR, events and advisory firm Cleantech Group, LLC, to deliver tracking services to monitor news in the clean technology sector. More
Retail analytics firm CustoLogix has launched a service that helps small and midsized retailers understand their business through the use of graphics and analyses. More
Retail analytics giant Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has hired Krishnakumar (KK) S. Davey, Ph.D. and Ed See as senior partners for its Consulting & Innovation practice. More
Full service firm Majestic Market Research Support Services (MMRSS) has expanded with the opening of an office in Jakarta, Indonesia. More
In the US, consumer specialist Perception Research Services International (PRS) and neuroscience firm EmSense have partnered to offer bio-sensory measures within quant packaging research studies. More
In Canada, online panel firm Vision Critical has released an online research product specifically for the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. More
In Germany, TNS Infratest has promoted Jens Krnger to the post of Head of Consumer & Retail, as part of its integration with Research International (RI). More
Neuromarketing company NeuroFocus has launched a brainwave-based measurement tool to provide CPG companies and design firms with the means to measure consumer response to new package designs. More
UK food and drink market research specialist MMR Group has appointed Mat Lintern as Managing Director of both MMR Research Worldwide and its online business Qubiq-Online. More
In the UK, consumer, shopper and market insights specialist Information Resources Inc (IRI) has rolled out a system which enables almost instant data flow from in-store EPOS (electronic point of sale) devices, to IRI's databases and analytics systems. More
Recession-bucking UK agency Nunwood has appointed Edward O'Brien as Account Director, Maite Barnett as Quantitative Account Director and Salina Nawaz as Senior Consultant. More
MENA agency Maktoob Research has launched a syndicated study, Middle East Shopping Trends, covering shoppers in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. More
In the US, consumer and retail specialist the NPD Group is now tracking consumer shopping habits, purchases and perceptions of the supermarket deli counter through its new service 'DeliTrack'. More
GfK Retail and Technology has upped its stake in its Indian joint venture (JV) with Nielsen from 40.0% to 50.1%. Previously known as ORG-GfK Marketing Services, the JV will now be re-branded as GfKNielsen India and will be included in the consolidated accounts of the GfK Group. More
In the UK, The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has launched a qual operation called Mimosa, which it says will address clients' needs for joined-up qual/quant thinking in the FMCG, retail and shopper insight, customer satisfaction and OTC sectors. More
In the UK, former Ipsos MORI and York Consulting executive Margaret Frazer has joined Cambridge Market Research as the Research Director of a new business unit that will focus on the development of the firm's client base in both the public and private sectors. More
In Sydney, research veterans Alex Sweeney and Alasdair Johnston have formed Clarity Strategic Research, a new agency offering qual and quant research services to the financial, B2B, telecoms, retail, FMCG and media sectors. More
Nielsen has re-organised its consumer research group into a global practice, and appointed practice expert teams across its five geographic regions. More
In the UK, recent MBO The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has appointed Jackie Tarran as Head of FMCG Research and promoted Catherine Elms to Associate Director. More
In the UK, MMR Research Worldwide has launched a market research service to provide manufacturers with a 360Ý view of the emotional factors that influence consumers when they make buying choices. More
The Nielsen Company has agreed to acquire GfK's FMCG Retail Measurement and Consumer Panel business in Switzerland. Nielsen will take over assets related to two continuous FMCG panels: GfK's Retail Store Panel and GfK's Household Consumer Panel. More
For the first three months of the year, GfK's sales slipped 1.3% from €268.1m in Q1 2008 to €264.7m. In order to absorb further 'crisis-related losses' the firm has announced measures to reduce personnel costs including short-time work, hiring freezes, salary cuts and redundancies. More
Pert Survey Research has announced the acquisition of two companies, customer experience and public policy consultancy Pulsar Research and brand and strategy consulting firm Market Directions; and the changing of its corporate name to the Pert Group. More
In the US, Experian Marketing Services has launched a model to help predict the next product a catalog shopper is likely to purchase, as well as the channel through which that purchase will be made. More
In the US, market research firm Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) has appointed Dr Martin Lautman as a member of its Board of Advisors and as a Consultant. More
US firm TodobebT, which runs a portal and social networking site for Spanish-speaking parents, is to offer access to proprietary research conducted through its panel of Hispanic Moms. More
In the US, Tango Management Consulting (TMC) has acquired InSite Analytics, a provider of retail market optimization and sales forecasting models. The firm has also hired retail sector veteran Mark Zygmontowicz, former Partner and EVP at Thompson Associates. More
US-based POPAI, the global association for 'marketing at retail', is launching what it claims will be the largest syndicated qualitative study on shopper engagement in the world. The retail-level research will be used to develop a metric to gauge in-store merchandising effectiveness. More
US consumer specialist Information Resources, Inc (IRI) has launched Analytic Advantage, a portfolio of predictive analytic solutions which includes business planning tools for consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers and retailers. More
GfK has reported an increase in income of €58.4m to €1,220.4m for the year 2008, reflecting organic growth of 5.5%. More
GfK Custom Research North America is partnering with The Hartman Group to launch a new study, Future Buy: The New Shopper Value Paradigm, which aims to find opportunities for companies looking to connect with shoppers in a changing retail marketplace. More
In Canada, Ipsos Reid has announced a deal with Tell Us About Us Inc. (TUAU) to better serve clients in the retail, restaurant, service and hospitality sectors. The deal adds TUAU's data collection and reporting engine the OnlineKMC(TM) to Ipsos' consulting expertise. More
British marcoms group Aegis - which owns market research firm Synovate - has announced plans to cut around 780 jobs across its global operations as part of a cost-saving plan to beat the downturn. Meanwhile CEO John Napier denied reports he has held merger talks with competitor Havas. More
Synovate has announced an agreement with Canadian software provider Vision Critical, to power its online community panels around the globe. More
Recently opened research division Pitney Bowes Business Insight has announced the PSYTE HD, a new geodemographic segmentation system for Canada, giving household level data on purchasing behavior, attitudes and preferences. More
UK-based agency 2CV, part of Cello Group, has announced the opening of an office in San Francisco. The office is its first in North America and the beginning of an international expansion plan. More
Information services giant Experian has announced a strategic alliance with Buxton, providers of site location and customer analytics. More
Global agency GfK has announced that it has increased its share in UK agriculture and animal health research specialist dmrkynetec by 49% to 75%. More
According to preliminary figures, GfK has achieved organic revenue growth of 5.5% to €1,220m for the financial year 2008. The firm has also implemented a new efficiency programme which it says should save €30m between now and 2012. More
In California, Alliant International University has opened an on-campus laboratory to conduct product testing for new research service Sample U. Consumers are invited to sample products and groceries in exchange for their feedback, and leave the laboratory with a bag of free goods. More
The Kantar Group is streamlining its businesses after buying TNS. The TNS Custom business will merge with Research International and will be generally known as TNS. A new social research force for the UK is established in TNS-BMRB, while Kantar has four new vertical sector operating units: Media, Health, Retail and Worldpanel. More
Tesco's pre-launch market research for its US 'Fresh & Easy' stores missed vital clues about purchasing decisions Stateside, its boss has told UK paper The Sunday Times. More
In India, knowledge services firm Boston Analytics has partnered with financial news channel CNBC-TV18 to re-launch its monthly barometer of Indian consumer opinion and consumption. More
Dutch market research agency DervalResearch has claimed it has found a link between the perception of taste and an individual's job and hobbies, which it is calling the Hormonal Fingerprint. More
Ipsos has reported full-year organic growth of 7.8% with revenues up 5.6% to €979.3m from 2007. The group says that in 2009 it intends to deliver further growth, while maintaining margins - at the very least - at their 2008 level. More
In the UK, Coca Cola has hired Bhawani Singh Shekhawat for its newly created role of Director - Strategy, Planning and Insights. More
Nielsen has appointed Duncan Falzon as Executive Director of Nielsen Media Thailand and Media Index, Asia Pacific. More
Advertising ROI specialist TRA has announced the appointment of Andrea Mezzasalma to its Advisory Board. Formerly Global Sector Head of TNS Media Research, Mezzasalma will provide expertise in the areas of strategic corporate initiatives and global partnerships. More
Nielsen is about to roll out its store layout and category space management solution my.spaceman, across more than 100 markets. More
In the UK, marcoms giant WPP has snapped up Red Dot Square Solutions, a firm which provides virtual market research to help retailers and manufacturers predict consumer behaviour in-store. Terms were not disclosed. More
Nielsen has opened a BASES office in Delhi, its second Indian location, from which it will provide new product research and forecasting services to the consumer packaged goods sector. More
Research International (RI) has launched a simulated test market system designed to provide sales predictions within the consumer packaged goods category. More
In the UK, online market research agency YouGov has designed a new platform to provide insight into how consumers are responding to the adverse economic conditions. More
In the UK, Newcastle-based Explain Market Research is to open a specialist call centre in Jesmond to provide space for additional staff at its headquarters. More
Survey software firm Vovici has partnered with UK customer experience consultancy CGA to offer clients customer experience measurement. More
Web-based consumer researcher BuzzBack has reported a 35% increase in sales in 2008, with growth in profits following expansion of the business. More
Swedish eye tracking firm Tobii Technology has signed a global agreement with Ipsos Marketing for its Eye Tracking hardware and software to be integrated into Ipsos' Pack Evaluation packaged testing system and other Ipsos solutions. More
In the US, Nielsen has announced the indefinite suspension of its P.R.I.S.M. initiative, which it set up with the In-Store Marketing Institute in 2006. P.R.I.S.M. aimed to establish a common industry metric to measure audiences and gauge the effectiveness of in-store marketing. More
In London, full-service research agency SPA has restructured its business into three divisions, each with its own Managing Director. It has also promoted Jo Lockett from Marketing Director to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer to oversee non-research functions. More
In the UK, confectionery giant Nestlé has opened an Insight and Learning Centre, to help its retail clients understand how the layout of shelves in their stores can be tailored to shoppers' needs. More
In the UK Ed Mayo, the CEO of government watchdog Consumer Focus, has co-authored a book which criticizes firms that use young children to conduct market research into their products. Mayo describes the system as 'insidious and downright creepy'. More
Andrew Mann is to join UK supermarket chain Sainbury's next month from rival Tesco, to take up the post of Director of Customer Insight and Loyalty. The move comes as Sainsbury's restructures its London head office as part of a cost-saving exercise. More
In Singapore, Nielsen has appointed Suresh Ramalingam as Managing Director of Consumer Research for its newly expanded API, MENAP and Southern Africa regions (APIMEA). More
Computer giant IBM has unveiled a portfolio of solutions designed to help retailers analyze data and apply it to business processes. More
US web analytics firm Omniture has launched a product to provide retailers with real-time visual analysis of customer interactions, and correlate off-line data with online interactions. More
US firms Planalytics and Revionics have partnered to incorporate the former's weather intelligence into the latter's price optimization solution, to help clients adjust pricing decisions to match localized consumer buying behavior. More
Health and sustainability specialist Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) has announced the expansion of its services to Canada, and the appointment of Jorge Santos as Vice President of Strategic Consulting, based in Ontario. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has rolled out its Consumer Reports on Eating Share Trends service (CREST) in the People's Republic of China, to track and offer insight on consumer purchases of commercially prepared meals and snacks in the region. More
Retail data giant Information Resources Inc (IRI) has appointed Blair Ruelens as Managing Director in the UK, replacing Jeremy McNamara who has left the firm following a review of the company's UK business direction. More
Retail behemoth Wal-mart has pulled out of the P.R.I.S.M. initiative, which was set up by Nielsen and the In-Store Marketing Institute in 2006 to establish a global metric for evaluating the in-store environment. More
GfK has acquired a 74% majority stake in Egyptian consumer research company Market Insight; and has formed a joint venture with the Median Group under the name of GfK Custom Research Middle East Holding, in which GfK holds a 51% share. More
Consumer specialist Information Resources Inc (IRI) has sold its Apollo Retail Space and Assortment Planning unit to retail software firm Aldata, for around $10.5m. More
Consumer and retail specialist The NPD Group has launched a study to monitor how the US economy is affecting consumer attitudes and shopping behaviour. More
Dean Blythe, President and CEO of US-based direct marketing giant Harte-Hanks, is to leave the firm to 'pursue other professional opportunities'. He will be replaced by company veteran and current Chairman of the Board, Larry Franklin. More
In the US, behavioral targeting and analytic services firm I-Behavior has partnered with database development specialist CMS Direct to integrate the latter's 'Prefer Network' co-operative database into its consumer purchase data products. More
Web site usability researcher JuxtConsult has created an online panel of more than 115,000 consumers in India, which the firm says are representative of 86% of the country's total urban population of 337 million people. More
Two US-based retail chains are in dispute over a subpoena which would require one to hand over to its much larger competitor business information including two years' worth of weekly store sales figures. More
In the US, Ipsos Mendelsohn has formed an advisory council – made up of representatives from ad agencies, publications, cable TV networks and digital media worlds – to expand the scope and size of its annual Affluent Survey. More
US-based BIGresearch has developed a forecasting service to understand what consumers will spend at specific retailers up to 75 days in advance. More
Former Synovate Hungary Researcher Brúnó Bitter has set up a market research and brand consultancy called Next Wave Research, which uses a technique he dubs 'visual ethnography' to view consumers' actual in-store behaviour. More
In Bucharest, Synovate has appointed brand marketer Carmen Wieck as Managing Director for Romania. More
UK-based Munro Global has expanded teams at two of its subsidiaries, FDS International and acefieldwork, with five appointments in the last few weeks. More
Groupe Aeroplan, owner of the Nectar loyalty scheme, is to launch its UK-based customer-driven insight and communication business in North America, with offices based in Toronto and Chicago. More
Marketing services group Creston has announced good interim results for the six months to September 2008, with revenue up 5% to £41.3m. The Insight Division saw revenues fall from £9.0m a year ago to £8.5m with smaller MR firms suffering, although its margins remain good. More
Synovate has announced the appointment of Pamela Welch as Key Account Director in Southeast Asia, based in Singapore and starting in January 2009. More
UK research pioneer Harry Henry, the last survivor of the 23 founders of the Market Research Society (MRS), has died aged 92 after a stroke. More
CPG, retail and healthcare information provider Information Resources Inc (IRI) has announced a three-year-plus contract, starting on 1st January 2009, as the sole supplier of retail data to Nestlé in the UK. More
Ipsos MORI has launched a new shopper research solution, Checkout, which promises to increase the chances of success at launch by optimising manufacturers' in-store strategy in the competitive environment. More
US consultancy Gongos Research has launched the goSHOP online research environment, a new platform which simulates the retail environment to help clients understand how consumers make a purchase decision and identify what products they are likely to buy. More
London-based agency SPA is diversifying into the B2B, public and transport/travel sectors with the appointment of Janet Wright as Research Director, responsible for developing new revenue streams and building up a specialist team. More
Thwarted in its TNS marriage plans, GfK appears to be enjoying the single life. Revenue for the first nine months of the year rose to €883.8m, representing organic growth of 7.2% (up from 5.5% the previous year); and adjusted operating income up 1.7% to €104.3m. The firm described the results as 'satisfactory' in the current economic climate. More
In the US, web analytics unit TNS Compete, now part of Kantar, has launched a Retail and Consumer Products practice to provide retailers with insights into shoppers' online activities across rival sites, portals, search engines and aggregators. More
In the UK, consumer agency Engage Research has boosted its management team with the appointment of Bob Dance as Director. More
Ground-breaking US-based media ROI measurement firm TRA has announced a database of 370,000 US homes, and the signing up of Discovery Communications as a client. More
Mall media specialist EYE has signed an agreement with Arbitron Custom Research to measure the effectiveness of mall-based advertisements and the psychographics of its shoppers. More
US custom research firm MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc) has introduced a suite of shopper insights research services, designed to help consumer product manufacturers and retailers connect with shoppers throughout the purchase process. More
Consumer insight firm DunnhumbyUSA has outgrown its existing Cincinnati headquarters and is moving to a 150,000 square-foot space that can accommodate more than 500 employees. More
UK-based Nunwood has developed Bioshopping, a new way of combining traditional shopper research with biometric technology to probe the emotions behind what engages/disengages consumers and what prompts them to buy. More
Nielsen has appointed Rebecca Chiu as Director, Consumer Research (FMCG) based in Hong Kong. More
Market intelligence systems and data provider Geoscape has introduced a marketing analytics platform to provide geodemographic, economic and behavioural segmentation data on people, households, media and shopping patterns in the US. More
Mintel and Information Resources Inc (IRI) have enhanced their joint product development support solution, GNPD IRIS, with additional trend analysis. More
In the US, Internet infrastructure firm Akamai Technologies has acquired shopper analytics network acerno for $95m in cash. The deal is expected to close later this quarter. More
Global research consultancy Illuminas has appointed Bob Takacs as Managing Director in its New York Office, to spearhead continued development in the Americas region. More
In the UK, quant specialist Buckingham Research has appointed Tim Sheard as Research Director and Justin Porter and Craig Strudley as Associate Directors. All three have previously worked at GfK NOP. More
In the US, independent marketing research firms Data Development Worldwide (DDW) and Marketing Analysts Incorporated (MAi) are to merge. Financial details have not been disclosed. More
Frances Grubb, President of marketing and sensory research firm J. Reckner Associates (JRA), will be stepping down from her role next January after sixteen years in the role. She will be replaced by SVP Steve Aukers who joined the firm last October from TNS. More
WPP has declared its offer for TNS 'unconditional as to acceptances' after securing the approval of shareholders representing 81.78% of TNS stock by its latest deadline of 3pm today, UK time – well over its new 75% target. More
US custom research firm MRSI (Marketing Research Services Inc) has launched an Online Shelf Testing tool to provide respondents with a 3D virtual shopping experience. More
In the UK, Buckingham Research Associates founder Maggie Drye has launched a new company, Insitas. Former Buckingham execs Sandra Halstead and Duncan Fergusson join the start-up team, along with Acritas CEO Lisa Hart who becomes a Non-Executive Director. More
Experian is to combine its FootFall system – which counts the numbers of people visiting retailers and shopping centres – with Path Intelligence's shopper behaviour technology, to understand the movement of shoppers as they flow through retail centres. More
204 weeks separate the Beijing Olympics and the start of the next games in London – precisely one week for each country that took part in the events in China. MrWeb will be following a trail across the world for the next four years, each week profiling one country and its research industry, linking also to news, jobs and suppliers. More
In the US, Proclivity Systems – which develops consumer shopping and purchasing behavior analytics – has raised $5.5m in Series B financing, led by Fung Capital USA Fund, with co-investment from WPP Digital and Pilot Group, as well as investors from the firm's Series A funding. More
MMR Research Worldwide has announced a new suite of research methods for clients in the food, drink and CPG sectors; and has rebranded, and relaunched its web site. More
UK supermarket giant ASDA has launched a new quarterly consumer confidence survey, with a panel of 10,000 of its shoppers who will provide feedback on topics such as personal finance, job security, the economy, and safety from crime. More
European market research company Stratégir has opened a new office in Covent Garden, London and appointed Dorte Torpe Hansen as UK MD. More
In the UK, The University of Reading and MMR Research Worldwide have opened a Sensory Science Centre, which will provide sensory evaluation data for MMR's food, drink and healthcare clients, as well as for the University's research and teaching programmes. More
In South Africa, food, beverage and packaging research agency BMI Foodpack has merged with retail and manufacturing intelligence specialist Adcheck Research, under the leadership of CEO Gareth Pearson. More
Consumer specialist Information Resources Inc (IRI) has appointed Hans Jessen as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of European Services and Global Analytics Delivery. More
In the UK, marketing services firm Indicia has launched an econometric modelling company, MarketingReality, to provide a 'fusion of customer behaviour analysis' across all marketing channels. More
Following yesterday's news that it had shelved plans to acquire UK rival TNS, GfK has bounced back by announcing its highest rate of sales growth since the firm's IPO in 1999. Organic sales were up 11.4% for the quarter, and 8.4% for the first six months of the year. More
UK marcoms group Aegis has posted overall organic revenue growth of 8.2% for the first half of 2008. Research arm Synovate reports healthy revenue and profit rises but has reduced expectations for 2008 organic market growth to 4.1% from 5.1%, in the light of tough trading conditions. More
GfK has cancelled plans to acquire UK rival TNS after failing to secure funding for the deal. TNS, whose shareholders must vote this week on the bid of its remaining suitor WPP, also announced 6-monthly results today with revenue and profit rises both in double figures. More
Business IT firm Infosys Technologies has launched a new platform which it says provides retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) firms with a 360-degree view of real-time in-store shopper and shelf activity. More
In the US, population segmentation specialist Nielsen Claritas has partnered with retail buying consortium Nationwide Marketing Group, to analyze customer data from select Nationwide member retailers. More
Global marketing and advertising database TGI (Target Group Index) has been relaunched in South Africa, via a new company, TGI SA [Pty] Ltd, whose majority shareholder is Ask Afrika. More
UK-based global recruitment group Prime People plc has launched a research, insight and analysis division, Prime Insight, and has appointed Alice Glover, co-founder of recruiters NicholsonGlover Consulting, to head it up. More
In Europe, predictive targeting technology firm Nugg.ad is to combine Nielsen Homescan panel data with survey data it gathers from visitors to its partner web sites, to help advertisers target consumers through online marketing campaigns. More
In the US, Nielsen has partnered with Mindset Media – a firm that creates consumer profiles of web users – to add personality profile mapping to its Homescan consumer purchase panel of 125,000 US households. More
TNS has promoted Andrew Czarnowski to the post of MD of its UK and Ireland Custom business; tasked with driving growth in one the firm's largest units and exploiting capabilities in shopper, brand and communications research. More
UK retailer Boots is the latest big name to restructure in the interests of becoming more customer-focused. The changes, announced last week, include the appointment of Directors of Loyalty, CRM, Customer Communications and In-store Marketing, all reporting to Marketing Director Elizabeth Fagan. More
Maritz Research has appointed Graham Devereux as Division Vice President of its newly created Retail Research Europe unit, responsible for strategy and business development and based in Marlow, Bucks, UK. More
Just over a year since joining TNS as Global Head of Access Panels, Robert Tomei has left to become President, Consumer & Shopper Insights at consumer analytics firm Information Resources Inc (IRI). More
UK research and marketing insight consultancy McCallum Layton has expanded its services to include sensory testing, through a bespoke Sensory Testing Unit and panel in Leeds. More
In the US, consumer analytics firm Information Resources Inc. (IRI) has appointed Bernard Nann as EVP and General Manager of Technology. More
In the UK, sensory panel company MSTS is being integrated with product development specialists Marketing Sciences. Both are part of the Insight Division of UK marketing services group Creston. More
Rob Stevens, co-founder of UK-based behavioural research consultancy Bunnyfoot, has moved the firm's established eye-tracking expertise into a new, separate consultancy, which will test consumers' behavioural response to offline media including TV, print and outdoor, as well as packaging. More
Consumer intelligence specialist DunnhumbyUSA has opened a third office, adding Chicago to sites in Cincinatti and Atlanta. More
Advertising, marketing and comms agency Omnicom has formed a consultancy, led by a dozen female execs, to help clients make connections with women – whether as consumers, customers, employees or other stakeholders. More
Supermarket chain Safeway has appointed Diane Dietz as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, overseeing the marketing, merchandising, manufacturing and distribution functions. More
Nationwide Insurance has partnered with the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University (OSU) to create The Nationwide Center for Advanced Customer Insights, dedicated to researching and evaluating consumer behavior in the United States. More
Both TNS and WPP have reported healthy revenue growth in the first five months of 2008 - the former doing particularly well in the UK, balancing a slight decline in the US. Meanwhile Martin Sorrell has again asked TNS for more financial information. More
Digital video recorder (DVR) pioneer TiVo has partnered with media marketing research firm TRA to develop an ad research system that gauges how consumers makes household purchasing decisions based on ad exposure. More
The UK market research industry has reported revenue growth of 2.3% to an estimated £1.8bn, according to the latest figures from the Market Research Society (MRS). This follows growth of 2.5% in 2005 and 2.4% in 2006. More
In the US, Information Resources Inc. (IRI) will be integrating TNS' Shades of Green methodology into its Consumer Network Household panel, to delve deeper into consumer attitudes and behavior towards environmental issues and motivation to purchase green products. More
Consumer and media intelligence firm Mintel has launched China Innovation Spotlight, a series of reports focusing on the latest trends and topical issues in new product development in the region. More
In the US, consultancy COLLOQUY has launched a national Retail Loyalty Index, to provide insight into which retailers consumers feel most loyalty towards. More
Online research agency BrainJuicer has opened an office in Switzerland, while also announcing plans to acquire Melbourne-based market research firm The Slater Marketing Group. More
Consumer analytics firm Information Resources Inc (IRI) has added a number of new solutions to its Consumer Network household panel to enable clients to gather reactions from hard-to-reach respondents. More
TNS has agreed to open its books and give WPP the same information it gave to GfK as part of their recent merger agreement. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the GfK-TNS merger may face an EU competition probe; and may be 'sweetened' by a cash bonus for TNS shareholders. More
Air Miles operator Alliance Data Loyalty Services has formally launched a consumer analytics supplier, Precima, developed from what was previously its in-house analytics function. More
Customer satisfaction specialist CFI Group has this week launched what it describes as the first UK National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI-UK) for banks, supermarkets and mortgage lenders. More
GfK and TNS have agreed the terms for their 'merger of equals' to create GfK-TNS plc. Aside from 'significant opportunities' for revenue growth, the firms say the move will bring annual pre-tax benefits through cost reduction of at least Euros 97m (£76m) by the end of the third full year following completion. More
Nielsen has introduced a Retail Edition of its Answers technology platform, which groups a number of analytical and reporting applications in a business-process oriented framework. More
Synovate has announced the appointment of Zoltan Bodo as Managing Director in Hungary, replacing the recently promoted George Christodoulides. More
In the US, foodservice industry specialist Product Evaluations, Inc. has announced senior changes in its research & consulting practice. Former Coca-Cola exec Andrea Bilotti joins as Director of Strategic Initiatives while owner Jane Wood becomes CEO and Rich Tucker steps up to her old role as President. More
Experian and digital specialist MultiMedia Intelligence have announced a partnership, combining the former's in-depth data on psychographics, consumer behavior, lifestyles and attitudes with the latter's market sizing and forecasting models and databases. More
In the UK, another first for Portsmouth. Foot traffic monitoring firm Path Intelligence, based in the city, is testing patent-pending surveillance technology that continuously tracks mobile phone signals to understand the movement of shoppers as they flow through retail centres or public amenities. More
UK agency Shopping Behaviour Xplained has developed a new technique called Xtraviews, which claims to capture and analyse not just what people say, but how they say it and what they really mean. More
Ipsos first quarter revenues rose 6.2% to €217.3m from Q1 2007. Despite slow going in North America, global organic growth reached 9.6%, which the firm said exceeded its full-year targets. More
GfK has described its Q1 results as 'sound', with organic growth in sales up 5.1% to €268.1m and consolidated total income rising almost 21% to €12.5m. More
UK soft drink and alcohol research consultancy Canadean has acquired food and packaging market research agency Landell Mills Consulting. More
Groundbreaking New York-based media research firm TRA (True ROI Accountability for Media) has appointed James O'Hara as EVP of Sales. More
In the US, media communications agency Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has partnered with online research agencies GMI and InsightExpress to conduct a tracking study which aims to uncover how ad messages influence consumer intentions to buy. More
UK consumer and media specialist Mintel has appointed Robert Santiago as Director of Thought Leadership. He was previously Head of the Financial Times Research Centre. More
UK full-service agency Market Research Partners (MRP) has launched a monthly qualitative omnibus. The new Qualbus format allows clients to buy 30-minute sections on any of the firm's four different monthly focus groups. More
Top five global MR firms TNS and GfK are in discussions about a possible 'merger of equals', which would create the world's second-largest market and information group. More
MediaVest has become the first media agency to sign up for MR firm TRA's recently launched service, which matches viewing data from digital set-top-boxes with offline shopping behaviour data provided by loyalty cards scanned at grocery checkout counters. More
The combined value of the world's top 100 brands – headed by Google – rose by 21% last year, according to the third annual BrandZ (TM) Ranking from ROI specialist Millward Brown Optimor. More
UK-based retail giant Tesco is working with partner firm dunnhumby to extend its consumer insight and analysis system to match its international footprint, minus the US. The Asian and East European roll-out includes tailored versions of its pioneering Clubcard loyalty programme. More
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has appointed Nigel Howlett as President of IRI International. Previously Executive Vice President (global) and a Board Director at OgilvyOne Worldwide, he replaces and reports to Mark Parise who becomes President of IRI's global Market Information Group. More
Fast-growing UK provider The Oxford Research Agency (TORA) has been bought by two of its directors, Andrew Tharme and Chris Sinclair, with the aid of venture capital. Former TRBi CEO Laurence Curtis also joins, as Chairman, with immediate effect. More
In the US, Spanish-language media giant Univision Communications Inc. has announced further collaboration with Nielsen, aimed at providing improved measurement and insight covering the Hispanic consumer segment. More
In the UK, consumer product and media intelligence firm Mintel has bought Snapshots International, a London-based publisher of global market reports. Terms were not disclosed. More
GfK has made a series of acquisitions, including Turkish market research firm Bilseim International, the remaining 35% of Swiss oncology specialist GfK Research Matters, the Brazilian MR company Shopping Brazil, and the watch panel set up by French MR agency Société V. More
In the US, former TNS MD Amaury de Condé has joined Ipsos as SVP and MD of its Global Product Center; an international role with responsibility for the worldwide Ipsos Marketing Consumer Goods business. More
Consumer packaged goods specialist Information Resources Inc (IRI) has partnered with the GfK/TNS-owned Europanel Association to offer what the firms describe as 'the widest-reaching, single-panel research service in the world'. More
In the US, Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI) has launched Market-by-Market, a service providing local market versions of its studies on the media usage, lifestyle and product purchasing behavior of US consumers. More
Ipsos has completed its acquisition of agriculture and animal health specialist Forward Research and will add its capabilities to Ipsos Reid's agribusiness, food and animal health division in Canada. The new entity will be known as Ipsos Forward Research. More
Synovate has launched a new service called Market Barriers, which measures the obstacles that brands face – such as distribution, pricing and product configuration – and reports back on the impact that these have on customer choice and market share. More
In the US, marketing intelligence firm GOLIATH Solutions has closed a $27m investment deal. The funds will be used to roll out the firm's real-time proprietary tool which analyzes consumer reaction to store displays, signs and merchandising. More
The Nielsen Company has announced results for the year ended December 31, 2007. The research giant narrowed its loss from $368m in 2006 (pro forma) to $282m, and grew reported revenue to $4,707m, a rise of 13% from its pro forma figure for 2006, or 7% adjusting for currencies and deferred revenue. More
GfK has confirmed a record year of trading in 2007 with organic sales up 5.8% to EUR1,162m. Adjusted operating income rose 4.7% to EUR157.6m and margin crept up to 13.6%. The firm has also announced plans to change its legal form to an SE, or Societas Europaea. More
In Germany, Colibri Research will be launching a new qualitative omnibus study in June, enabling clients to ask questions in a focus group setting. More
Data collection firm Interviewing Service of America (ISA) has partnered with research and consulting agency SMS in Hawaii, to offer customer and employee satisfaction measurement to the islands' business community. More
In the US, Arbitron and Nielsen joint venture Scarborough Research says it is considering the possibilities of expanding into additional 'mid-tier' local markets. More
In the UK, Harris Interactive has acquired the online consumer Canvasse Opinion Panel from Experian – terms were not disclosed. The panel will add up to 200,000 members to the current multi-million Harris Poll Online Panel. More
NWC Opinion Research, the AsiaPac arm of Opinion Research Corporation (ORC), has appointed Joseph Chui as Senior Research Director, leading a team serving local and regional clients based in Hong Kong and Mainland China. More
Synovate has announced the acquisition of UK company Peter Seagroatt & Associates (PS&A), which focuses on the supply of retail key account information to the UK petrol forecourt and convenience sectors. More
In the US, Gallup and healthcare support provider Healthways have forged a 25-year agreement to measure and track the well-being of communities and companies, as well as the effectiveness of programs implemented to improve health, well-being and productivity. More
Information Resources (IRI) has this week unveiled a number of analytics platforms for the CPG / retail marketplace, at its annual client summit in Florida. More
US-based consumer info specialist Information Resources Inc (IRI) has appointed Thomas Peterson as President of Global Retail. More
In the UK, YouGov has appointed Andy Barker as Head of Qualitative, to work with sector heads to develop an integrated consulting offer for clients. More
TNS has announced an agreement to acquire online behaviour measurement company Compete, Inc. for US$75m in cash, doubling if targets are met over two years. The company also reported full year results for 2007, with revenue of UK£1,067.7m, representing underlying growth of 5.4%. More
In the final quarter of 2007 GfK achieved organic growth of 6.5% and a margin of 16.8% – a figure the firm says is the most successful in its history. Based on preliminary data, the group also reported an organic sales increase of 5.8% to Euros 1,162m for the full year. More
Following yesterday's news that Microsoft is to test a new approach to measuring online ads, the firm has announced its acquisition of Israeli behavioural targeting technology firm YaData. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Israel's business bible Globes estimates that the price tag was $20m to $30m. More
WPP-owned ad agency OgilvyAction has appointed Mark Singer to lead development of its Last Mile Activation consumer analytics practice in North America, while Ken Featherston joins as Director of Shopper Marketing. More
In the US, health, wellness and sustainability researcher Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) has teamed up with Nielsen to provide consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers with a better understanding of its consumer segmentation model LOHAS (Lifestyles Of Health And Sustainability). More
Arbitron and Nielsen have ditched development of 'Project Apollo', their much-vaunted scheme to give a better understanding of the link between consumer exposure to advertising through multiple media and shopping / purchasing behaviour. More
Nielsen will soon reach 40,000 households in China through the launch of its Homescan consumer purchase panel in the region. More
Nielsen has appointed Michael Sherrard Executive Director of its FMCG Customised Research practice in Asia Pacific. More
Chicago-headquartered branding and marketing consultancy Maddock Douglas has acquired Connecticut-based MR agency Markitecture to add market research and customer insights to its 3-2-1Launch! new product and services division. More
In the UK, information giant Experian has appointed Gareth Mitchell-Jones as Director of Analytics in its Integrated Marketing division. More
UK MR psychology specialist CRAMQIQ has partnered with Chinese research agency DiagAid to undertake in-depth consumer and B2B research in the Chinese market. More
Panel management expert Jean Davis has been promoted to President of Ipsos Interactive Services in North America, less than a year after joining the firm. More
US firm TRA, Inc. has today unveiled a system for measuring and reporting 'True ROI Accountability' for advertising spend. The firm plans to match ads actually received with products actually bought for a massive 1,000,000 plus US households. More
Quebec-based Geocom, which includes Geocom Recherche Inc. and Geocom Sondages Inc., has agreed to the purchase of its key business assets by Altus Group Income Fund. More
US customer insights firm Market Force Information, which bought mystery shopping provider Shop'n Chek in 2006, has acquired marketing agency Certified Marketing Services (CMS), and aims to create an integrated suite of mystery shopping, direct customer feedback, and analytics services. More
German consultancy IFM International Sportanalysen GmbH (IFM) has acquired a majority stake in the UK's Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS). More
In London, TNS is ready to launch what it claims is the UK's first one-day turnaround Omnibus, aiming to provide clients with an 'instant snapshot of consumer opinion and behaviour'. More
In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has appointed Philip Cullum as Chair of its new Advisory Committee on Consumer Engagement, alongside eight new committee members from a wide range of backgrounds. More
In the US, Knowledge Networks (KN) has appointed Neal Heffernan as Senior VP and General Manager of its business unit Promotions Decisions Inc (PDI), based in Cincinnati. More
TNS has merged its own continuous research service in China with that of its joint venture CTR Market Research, under the Worldpanel brand. Jason Yu is appointed to lead the newly merged unit as General Manager, TNS Worldpanel China. More
Coffee giant Starbucks is hoping to steer out of troubled waters with the help of newly promoted Senior VP Marketing Terry Davenport and Senior VP, Global Strategy Michelle Gass. Former Marketing Exec Harry Roberts also returns to the firm as Senior VP/Chief Creative Officer. More
Global marcoms giant WPP has acquired consumer market research firm Yankelovich, and will be merging the company into its consumer trends and future research agency, Henley Centre HeadlightVision. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
GfK has expanded its global network with the acquisition of Australian research firm the Blue Moon Group, while taking a 51% majority stake in Macedonian MR agency Stratum Research. More
In the US Lisa Cooper, formerly Vice President, Client Services at Ipsos, has joined Rothstein-Tauber, Inc. (RTi) as a Senior VP of Client Services. More
WPP's brand development business Added Value has acquired US-based consultancy Cheskin. Cheskin Added Value will retain a high degree of autonomy with Darrel Rhea maintaining his leadership role as CEO. More
Synovate has acquired SPSL, which provides retail foot traffic measurement data and publishes the UK's annual Retail Traffic Index. More
US-based health, wellness and sustainability researcher the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) has hired Patti Marshman-Goldblatt as SVP, and Diane Ray as VP Strategic Consulting. Kurt Wagner, Dave Montgomery, La-Vie Borde-Perry, Gail Sayer and Deb Morang have also joined, as Project Directors. More
TNS is to buy the remainder of LatinPanel Holdings from joint venture partners The NPD Group and the IBOPE Group. Its current 33.3% stake will be upped to 100% in January. More
In the US, pharma research firm Decision Resources has announced plans to acquire the Life Sciences business of Wood Mackenzie, which comprises market research, data and analysis on the biopharmaceutical and animal health industries. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. More
The UK's Loyalty Management Group (LMG), the firm behind the Nectar loyalty card scheme, has been sold to Canadian rewards programme group Aeroplan, in a deal which will provide Aeroplan with access to the shopping details of around ten million UK households. More
Jacques Blanchard, the Co-founder and President of marketing and research consultancy Novaction, has jumped ship to join rival, Nielsen-owned BASES, which provides research and forecasting services to the consumer packaged goods sector. More
The Nielsen Company has introduced a new scorecard product, designed to help manufacturers and retailers work together to measure how certain product categories bring shoppers into stores. More
In the US, J. Reckner Associates, Inc. (JRA) has added two Senior Vice Presidents, Cindy Ward and Steven M. Aukers, to lead the development of its global sensory and market research practices. Former Kraft researcher Beth Logan also joins, as an Account Director. More
GfK has announced organic sales growth of 6.7%., and a sales increase of 5.5% to €833.9m for the first nine months of the year. Meanwhile Dr Derek Allen is joining the group in the US as EVP of the GfK Research Center for Excellence. More
MR veteran Alexander (Lex) Olivier has retired after 20 years with Kantar-owned firms Millward Brown (MB), Research International (RI) and Lightspeed. However, he remains Director General of EFAMRO – the European federation of research associations which he helped found. More
In the US, market discovery software firm Accelovation has launched a new tool to help food manufacturers source information on scientific research, consumer trends and innovations. More
In Seattle, QL2 Software has introduced four new market intelligence services designed to help marketers make 'faster and better' business decisions about products, pricing, competitive positioning and consumer opinions and preferences. More
After 21 years with the firm, Mary Beth West has been appointed as EVP/Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Kraft Foods, responsible for consumer insights and strategy, integrated marketing communications and consumer services. More
Information Resources Inc (IRI) has launched a syndicated service to track weekly point-of-sale (POS) data for more than 250 product categories sold in US convenience stores. More
UK consultancy dunnhumby is to use the ultimate consumer panel – data from the Loyalty Clubcards of 13 million households visiting its key client, Tesco – to offer evaluation of the impact of marketing activity on shopper behaviour. More
Online competitive intelligence provider Hitwise has launched an updated version of its Hitwise Lifestyle online tool, containing a new approach which provides marketers with attitudinal and behavioural customer segmentation data on more than 30,000 web sites. More
In London, Comperio Research has appointed Chris Barnes as Head of Research to spearhead the firm's operations across consumer, sponsorship and stadia markets. More
Arbitron and Nielsen are to extend the pilot period for their joint venture Project Apollo into the first quarter of 2008, to allow more time to demonstrate its benefits and to develop data delivery procedures. It was previously scheduled to complete this year. More
Arbitron / Nielsen joint venture Project Apollo has reached agreement with four major US radio industry firms, to add audience data for commercials broadcast on their network and syndicated programs to its offer. More
Retail info giant IRI has appointed John Freeland, an Accenture veteran most recently President-Worldwide Operations for salesforce.com, as its new President and CEO. He succeeds Scott W. Klein, in the roles since January 2004, who moves up to IRI's parent, Symphony Technology Group. More
Nielsen and its partners have announced 'substantial progress' in their P.R.I.S.M. project, which aims to establish a global metric for evaluating the in-store environment. Initial results shed light on the relationship between traffic and purchases, and the level of in-store communuications with shoppers. More
In the UK, TNS has acquired retail and shopper insight consultancy ID Magasin, which specialises in video-based research and eye-tracking for international in-store research. More
Synovate has acquired Spain's largest independent full service market research agency, Metra Seis, for an undisclosed sum. More
Swedish company Simstore International AB has received $2m in venture capital to develop SIMSTORE360®, an Internet based tool for the analysis of consumer decision-making at the point of purchase, using virtual store environments. More
Papers at today's ESOMAR Congress looked at 60 years of the development of research within electronics manfacturer Philips; and at the successful repositioning of the sagging SlimFast brand. More
In the US, financial trading intelligence firm Alphacution has teamed up with sports marketing firm rEvolution. The pair have adapted Alphacution's financial sector marketing intelligence platform into a solution for optimising marketing and sponsorship spend. More
In the UK, research consultancy Insight Engineers has launched a syndicated health and wellbeing study which seeks to uncover consumers' awareness of and attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. More
Nielsen's FMCG analytics unit Decisions Made Easy (DME) has partnered with France's first online supermarket Telemarket. The retailer's consumer profile data will be used to help suppliers gain an insight into the online supermarket sector. More
New York-based consumer research firm The NPD Group has linked up with LA consultancy Fusion Marketing to offer consumer information and marketing insights into the food and drink perishables industry. More
Nielsen has launched another new product integrating data from two or more of its existing sources. Web-based 'Store Explorer' examines retail store conditions and their impact on brands and categories, using information from up to four other services. More
TNS has today released unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2007. The firm says underlying revenue growth of 5.9% and operating profit up 8.9% to £45.4m show the successful implementation of a strategy commenced last year. More
Clear Seas Research, the MR company within family owned US b-to-b group BNP Media, is expanding into the food, beverage and packaging sectors, as well as the gaming market. The move follows BMP's acquisition of part of publisher and conference organiser Ascend Media. More
The Nielsen Company has appointed Christophe Cambournac as MD for Bases Asia Pacific, located in Hong Kong. He succeeds Marc Lagrois who stays within the firm but will return to the US. More
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is to get its 'first' annual syndicated research study, courtesy of Starfish Research (Asia-Pacific). More
ImmediateFX (IFX), part of software and service holding company the Symphony Technology Group (STG), has announced the acquisition of The Hendry Corporation, a strategic marketing consulting and software company. More
MrWeb has announced a partnership with the US-based association MRA (Marketing Research Association). The deal aims to give MRA members access to daily updates of global news and job vacancies while promoting MRA's services and programs to readers of Daily Research News. More
UK publisher and media group Emap has bought online retail research and intelligence firm Planet Retail in a £23 million cash deal. More
Ipsos and Nielsen have reported results for the first half of the year. Ipsos increased revenue by 8.7% over the year earlier period to €443.1m, while Nielsen's grew from $2,019m to $2,241m. More
German fragrance and flavourings manufacturer Symrise has opened a Sensory and Consumer Science Centre in Singapore, which includes rooms for focus groups, panel-training rooms and individual sensory-test booths. More
GfK has reported first half results which are 'moderate compared with the highly successful prior year'. Business in two divisions, Custom Research and HealthCare, fell short of expectations, although others forged ahead giving respectable overall organic growth of 4.9%. More
Retail analysis specialist Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has announced an extension to its relationship with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., creating a range of consumer panel services based on the consumer giant's customer segments. More
UK convenience store chain Co-op Group is to conduct customer satisfaction surveys at the point of sale using its EPOS system. More
Lightspeed Research has announced the launch of a new GB Sports Panel. The panel pre-identifies consumers on the basis of sports watched and participated in. More
Texas-based direct marketing giant Harte-Hanks, which targets promotions based on information gathered at the point of sale, has promoted Dean Blythe to President, replacing CEO Richard Hochhauser who is retiring after 32 years with the company. More
Ben Dixon will take up his new role as Managing Director of Millward Brown's Australian business in September, after nine years working with Nielsen. More
Dallas-based Spectrum Solutions has announced the launch of a new company, ZeeProbe, providing market intelligence for franchise, food and retail establishments. More
WPP subsidiary Ogilvy Healthworld has agreed to acquire 70% of South Korea's Pharmax Research & Consulting. More
According to the latest TNS Worldpanel data, UK grocery sales have grown at their slowest rate for more than a year, impacted by wet weather and a squeeze on consumer spending. More
Enterprise Feedback Management (EFM) provider Vovici has added a new market research tool to its EFM Community product, exploiting its experience working with Nielsen on its Homescan panel. More
In the US, Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has launched its 'AllScan Convenience Store Tracking' service, to provide scanner-based point-of-sale data across the convenience store market. More
Dunkin' Brands' head of Insight Regina Lewis has left to join IHG, the group which owns hotel brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn, as part of its newly formed worldwide brand management leadership team. More
In the US, marketing solutions firm Questus has hired Peter Sorgenfrei as Director of Research Strategy. More
Nielsen owned analytical software firm Decisions Made Easy (DME) has released a software tool that enables consumer goods manufacturers to pull data directly from retailers to help them manage in-store product availability. More
GfK Consumer has launched a new regular survey of 'unacculturated' Hispanic Americans, whom it defines as 'not yet assimilated completely to their adopted country'. Around two fifths of the 42 million Hispanics living in the US are said to meet the definition. More
In the US, MR firm MarketTools has launched 'Shopper Impact', which combines virtual shopping technology, advanced research methods and dashboard reporting to provide manufacturers with insights into retail consumer behaviour. More
TNS has issued a trading update, ahead of reporting interim results on 3 September. The group says its previously troubled US custom business has returned to growth and expects underlying organic revenue growth of over 5% for the first six months of 2007. More
ASDA, the UK supermarket owned by US giant Wal-Mart, has announced the launch of a new food nutrition labelling system after extensive customer research. The approach combines the features of the alternative 'traffic light' and GDA systems used by its rivals. More
In the USA, MarketTools, Inc. has announced the availability of a research solution for marketers targeting mothers, the 'Moms Insight Network'. The system combines input from the online conversations of millions of 'moms', an online community and a quarterly survey of 500 respondents. More
Following a two-year research programme which has seen Tesco's US CEO Tim Mason and his team invest thousands of hours investigating the needs of the American consumer, the supermarket giant will be launching its Fresh & Easy stores in the US by the autumn. More
Denmark-based Anis Panduro Zouzou has been appointed Nielsen's European In-Store Manager, charged with leading the roll-out of its In-Store initiative across Europe. More
UK-based agency Nunwood has added in-store video observation to its shopper insight offer, with the aim of more effectively evaluating subconscious behaviour traits. More
Nielsen has introduced Homescan® Total ShopperView, billed as 'the industry's largest panel created to capture feedback on non-bar-coded items'. The service covers 15 categories of perishables such as bakery items, meat, vegetables and coffee. More
UK-based retail analysis specialist Cartogen has launched a service promising to make preliminary analysis of potential new sites 'effective and affordable' for smaller businesses such as shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, health clubs and salons. More
US retailer Target has pulled an e-mail survey which made some respondents feel 'uncomfortable'. The questionnaire, which was designed by New York firm Mindset Media and distributed to Target customers on Friday by Nielsen, was canceled by Saturday morning. More
Following the recent departure of Robert Tomei, Mitch Barns has been named Global President of Nielsen's consumer segmentation tools, Homescan, Spectra and Loyalty. The move continues the firm's reorganisation of its Consumer Product Leadership team. More
Synovate has introduced a suite of market potential models and simulators known as MVP – Market Value Potential; and has renamed its specialist Product Design & Development division 'MarketQuest'. More
The Nielsen Company has reported revenues for the first quarter of 2007 up 5% over the same period last year, helped by a strong performance (up 7%) from its Media Research division. More
Joel Zaremby has joined Arbitron as Senior Account Manager on Project Apollo, the joint venture with Nielsen which is being developed to provide advertisers with a better understanding of the connection between media exposure and purchase behaviour. More
Online agency Research Now has launched a proprietary research panel to gather consumer opinion in New Zealand. More
London-based FMCG specialist, MASMI, has opened a full service MR firm in Warsaw, Poland, and appointed Tomasz Jakubowski, formerly of Synovate, to lead the team. More
Wal-Mart has partially lifted its six-year ban on providing sales data to MR firms, to support Nielsen's effort to create an industry standard for in-store marketing measurement. More
Nielsen has partnered with research firm Phoenix Multicultural, to launch a national Homescan Consumer Panel which will tap in to the $1 trillion Hispanic consumer market. More
Fort Worth-based customer analytics specialist Buxton is following a doubling of its headcount in 2006 by moving to new offices which have room to double it again, with a further 100+ new research and technical staff. More
London-based media and consumer agency Essential Research has hired Alex Vishney as an Associate Director and Head of Quantitative Research. More
The Nielsen Group has launched Brand3 – 'Brand Cubed' – linking retail market measurement data, household panel information and customised survey results to provide clients with a holistic perspective of a firm or product's brand equity. More
Ipsos has announced a strong first quarter with revenues up 8.9% to Euros 204.7m. Organic growth was 10.3%, the highest for a first quarter since Ipsos' IPO in 1999. More
The GfK Group has announced healthy first quarter results with sales up 5.2% to Euros 261.3m, with organic growth of 6.8%. Margin was up from 8.5% a year previously to 9.5%, and adjusted operating income rose by 17.3% to Euros 24.8m. More
Nielsen has launched the first suite of products under its much-heralded NielsenConnect banner, integrating information from dozens of its collection, analysis and reporting services. More
Nielsen and Experian Marketing Services have announced a new CRM solution to help consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies understand consumer purchasing behaviour and measure response to campaigns. More
Brian Cornell, Exec VP and Chief Marketing Officer of Safeway is leaving to look for a top role elsewhere. During his three year tenure, Cornell revamped market research and insight functions at the $40.5bn grocery chain. More
TV ad assessment firm IAG Research has hired R. Daniel Dahlen as Executive Vice President of its newest division, the Restaurant Business Group. More
In the US, the Nielsen Company and the In-Store Marketing Institute have begun the expansion of their in-store measurement service, known as P.R.I.S.M. (Pioneering Research for an In-Store Metric), to encompass all forms of merchandising activity. More
Consultancy firm Strategic Vision has added a Canadian unit to its existing teams in the USA and Russia. StrategicVision Canada will be led by new hire Margo Jay, whose association with the firm began more than 15 years ago as a client. More
US-based online tips and advice publisher Modern Mom has formed an Insights & Action division to delve into the key drivers of the 'mom market'. Its products have been developed with the help of MR consultancy, Noesis. More
Consumer, shopper and retail market intelligence agency IRI has opened its new BehaviorScan media testing studio in Colorado, USA, where retailers and manufacturers will be able to test the impact of their TV ad strategies. More
Restaurant market intelligence provider, Restaurantchains.net, has developed an analytical research system called RCO2000 to track and compare growth among US and Canadian restaurant chains. More
A week of headlines for Google. On Friday the search giant announced first quarter revenue up 63% to $3.66bn, and rocketed to the top of Millward Brown's BRANDZ(TM) index with a worth dwarfing current figures - $66.4bn. Google also made headline deals and gained search share against rivals Yahoo! and Microsoft. More
South African firm WDB Investment Holdings, the finance arm of the WDB Charitable Trust, has acquired a 25.1% stake in MR intelligence firm Kaufman Levin Associates (KLA). More
Catalina Marketing has agreed to be acquired by private equity investment firm Hellman & Friedman for $32.50 per share in cash. The agreement means the termination of an earlier deal with its major shareholder ValueAct Capital, which in consequence will receive an $8.4m fee. More
Consumer products giant Unilever plans to increase the use of the Internet as an MR tool in the UK, following the success of its web-based research programmes in the States. More
Hi-tech researcher OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has added five senior executives, apparently the prelude to a major offensive. The hires include Bruce Grey Tedesco as Chief Research Officer and four others at VP level or above. More
Retail and consumer information firm, NPD Group, has bought TNS's foodservice tracking businesses in the UK and Spain, and integrated them into its CREST® food purchase information service. More
Nielsen's consumer goods analytics unit Decisions Made Easy has launched 'Nielsen Complete Coverage', an online application which it claims provides 'a more robust and reliable analysis' of markets and category performance. More
Birmingham, UK-based Select Research has launched the initial phase of a study which it hopes will lead to the creation of a new computer-based system for measuring obesity. The system is designed to improve on Body Mass Index (BMI) which doctors have used since 1830. More
The Nielsen Company has announced the launch of a new web-based software tool for evaluation of past and present product placements; and the integration of consumer purchasing behaviour into its multi-country Global Track analysis tool. More
The Nielsen Company has announced a new category management solution for suppliers of Wal-Mart, for whom it is the sole provider of consumer panel services. The new package combines Nielsen's Spectra consumer segmentation and targeting with its Decisions Made Easy sales tracking software. More
Winston-Salem, NC-based Bellomy Research has promoted Reggie Pasterczyk to Vice President – Client Service, and hired Dina Messina from Scarborough Research/VNU as a Research Associate. More
Major shareholder ValueAct Capital is on course to take consumer behavior and direct marketing firm Catalina Marketing Corporation private, in an all-cash transaction valued at $1.7 billion. More
TNS has announced the purchase of US MR consultancy Retail Forward, boosting the research giant's newly established Retail and Shopper Insights division. More
British shoppers have voted Tesco their favourite retailer, while Kwik Save teeters on the brink of insolvency. Analysis from TNS Worldpanel continues to show most other supermarkets gaining share at the beleaguered store's expense. More
US chain Dunkin' Donuts has deposed coffee giant Starbucks in customer loyalty ratings for the first time. NYC-based Brand Keys Inc. said Dunkin', whose insight head Regina Lewis featured last year in MRWho, had given its brands 'the right values and the right sense of community'. More
In the US, burger chain Wendy's International has boosted its innovation and insights capacity, as it begins a number of new product and marketing initiatives. Paul Kershisnik joins in the new role of Senior VP of Marketing Strategy and Innovation, and Tad Wampfler as Senior VP of Supply Chain Management. More
TNS has released full year results for 2006, showing revenue almost flat at £1,004.2m (up 0.5% from £999m in 2005). However the firm, whose US custom business has been restructuring since reporting problems a year ago, said results in other divisions were good. More
Healthy preliminary figures indicate that GfK Group's 2006 organic growth of 5.4% was again ahead of the estimated industry average of 4-5%. Declining sales in Japan meant overall Asia Pacific growth was nil, but the firm's operations in Central and Eastern Europe continue to boom. More
ACNielsen Homescan & Spectra – the Nielsen unit that examines shopper attitudes – has unveiled its new Consumer & Shopper Insights Suite, promising in-depth syndicated analysis of actual consumer buying behaviour. More
Retail analysis giant Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has partnered with comScore Networks to create an Internet tracking panel, along with support solutions to provide Internet media buying and planning tools for CPG clients. More
In the US, Kraft Foods Inc. will invest $300-400 million on 'marketing, research and development' this year in a plan to turn around a series of disappointing results. The consumer giant aims to make its product categories 'more relevant to consumers'. More
TNS has acquired US shopping behaviour specialist Sorensen Associates for an undisclosed sum, and created a global practice, TNS Retail and Shopper Insights. More
The MMR Group has announced a number of appointments and promotions. They include three promotions to Research Director. More
Research predicts that UK online shopping could quadruple and account for c.40% of retail sales by 2020. The study was conducted by YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research on behalf of price comparison service uSwitch. More
In the USA, Ellen Schutt, a former editor of Nutraceuticals World magazine has launched an independent consulting firm whose offer will include trends analysis and MR. Schutt Solutions LLC will focus on the nutraceuticals and functional foods industries. More
St Louis-based Doane Marketing Research and Newbury-based Kynetec have joined forces to form dmrkynetec, a market research and consulting business specialising in agriculture, horticulture, the food chain and human and animal health. More
Ohio-based retail and consumer products MR consultancy Retail Forward has hired James Russo as VP of Business Development. More
Supermarket giant Tesco grew its UK sales by 8% and its share to 31.5% in the 12 weeks to 28th January, but is seeing 'solid' competition from Asda, Sainsbury and Morrisons, according to TNS Worldpanel data. Meanwhile Tesco says it will open small 'neighbourhood markets' in the fall in twenty locations around Phoenix, AZ. More
It's the 'year of the amygdala' according to UCLA's Dr. Joshua Freedman. Nothing to do with the Chinese calendar – the amygdala is the brain's 'threat detector' and many of this year's Super Bowl commercials stirred it into action, according to tests in the University's high-field fMRI scanner. More
Milwaukee-headquartered Market Probe has acquired Brussels-based MR firm, Ask, to enhance its global agricultural capabilities. The announcement follows last year's purchase of St-Louis crop and dairy sciences specialist Marketing Horizons. More
Just as Gap's MR champion leaves the helm, even-bigger retailer Wal-Mart has promoted a senior research advocate. CMO John Fleming, a leading light in the firm's strategy of tailoring stores to different customer segments, becomes Chief Merchant in charge of apparel, entertainment, grocery and home. More
UK retailer Waitrose has created a new position of Customer Development Director, putting customer requirements at the heart of its ambitious development plans. Board member Tony Solomons, currently Supply Chain Director, steps into the role from next week. More
Marketing services holding company Cagney plc has acquired central London-based research agency Tree for an initial consideration of c.£1m in cash and shares. More
TNS has promoted Worldpanel head Judith Passingham to MD of TNS Europe, with immediate effect. Current Europe MD Bruno Hoetzel will concentrate on TNS Infratest in Germany, whose development he has led for the past six years. More
Major US retail grocer The Kroger Co. has appointed customer insight specialist Linda Severin in the new role of Vice President of Corporate Brands. She joins from ConAgra Foods Inc. in Chicago where she was VP of Marketing. More
VNU today continued its radical overhaul following its return to the private sector, by changing its name to 'The Nielsen Company'. The firm says the move 'emphasizes its best-known brand name and underscores its commitment to create an integrated, streamlined global organization'. More
US dieting has hit an all-time low, according to The NPD Group's 21st annual 'Eating Patterns in America' report. Meanwhile a survey conducted by food manufacturer, Dairy Crest, reveals that the UK's 7 to 12 year-olds are opting for healthier lunch choices. More
Database giant, Acxiom Corporation and database marketing services company I-Behavior, have linked up to offer in-depth and localized data on consumer purchasing behaviour to multi-channel retailers. More
Market research supplier, Mintel, and retail and consumer information provider, Information Resources Inc (IRI), have paired up to launch a new tool which they claim could reduce the cost of new product development by up to 80%. More
In the US, Alcone Marketing Group has appointed Beth Murphy as Director, Consumer Insights, working in its Consumer Lab(TM) in-house group. She has spent the last five years at Kraft Foods. More
ACNielsen has signed a new five-year agreement expanding its partnership with Dollar General, which operates more than 8,000 dollar stores. ACN will provide Account Level Services for the US retailer, including a Census level trade area which will be available to the vendor community. More
Health, wellness and sustainability researcher The Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) has hired Greg Stephens, RD and Linda Povey as Vice Presidents of Strategic Consulting. More
Most of the world has made New Year resolutions for 2007, according to ACNielsen. An online survey of more than 22,000 consumers in 46 countries found 56% of respondents resolved to do or change something, with exercising more and improving work–life balance topping the list. More
VNU has begun what it calls a 'major corporate transformation' including the phasing out of its existing group structure and the cutting of up to 4,000 jobs in 2007. NMR CEO Susan Whiting is promoted to a new group-wide EVP role while Frank Martell and Steve Schmidt will leave the company. More
With the final shopping week before Christmas fast approaching, surveys from TNS and ACNielsen show that grocery sales are climbing, with record supermarket sales of £3 billion being forecast for next week. More
Cadbury South Africa has just created the new post of Senior Manager of Market Research and Insights specifically for former Coke researcher, Jill Barnes. More
M/A/R/C® Research has promoted Betsy Sutherland to Senior Vice President. Sutherland has been with the firm for the past 18 years, working on traditional and CRM research. More
VNU and partner the In-Store Marketing Institute are to launch a global service measuring customers' in-store influences and purchasing decisions. The service will be offered by Nielsen In-Store, a new unit within the recently announced NielsenConnect, which aims to 'follow the consumer'. More
TNS has appointed two Executive Vice Presidents for its North America Custom Research leadership under Kimberly Till. Michael O'Keeffe joins to lead Operations and MCP, and Larry Levin to head up U.S. Consumer Goods & Services. More
Analytics specialist Information Resources Inc. (IRI) has re-hired Jatinder (Ronny) Bindra as Senior VP of Retail Insights, based in the Chicago head office. More
UK-based agency Nunwood, in its eleventh successive year of double digit growth, has made five senior promotions strengthening its global insight division. More
In the UK, Incite Marketing Planning has appointed Judith Mallett as a Director, just a month after former RI Global CEO Roger Banks joined the agency as MD. Mallett has recently worked as a consultant on the Vodafone account for RI. More
Farmers in Iowa have helped establish a new online market research company, AgSpeak. The launch was led by a group of agri-business professionals aiming to improve information flow to agricultural suppliers, while 'fairly compensating' farmers for the information they share. More
In the US, ACNielsen has announced a long-term alliance with NACS (the National Association of Convenience Stores), designed to provide comprehensive analysis of sales data for the convenience and petroleum market. More
GfK Custom Research North America has appointed Steven Maskell as Vice President, Senior Account Executive, leading the client facing side of its Mystery Shopping division. He joins from Shop 'n Check Worldwide where he was Director of Sales and Marketing. More
Three-quarters of UK consumers think products have too much packaging, according to research into public perceptions of retail choice by Ipsos MORI. The findings, which also hint at a forthcoming boom in online grocery shopping, are the first from a regular 14-country survey. More
Jeff Neiheisel, previously Senior VP of Client Services with TNS, has joined Harris Interactive as Senior VP and Industry Research Group Leader for the firm's CPG Research Practice. More
ItemFinder, a new web-based service designed to satisfy customer "where to buy" needs for specific products, has been launched this week by ACNielsen in the US. The service provides access to over 38,000 stores across the food, drug, mass, dollar, and liquor channels. More
In the US, M/A/R/C® Research has appointed Susan Hayes as an Account Director. Her previous insight roles includes Hallmark Cards and Kraft Foods. More
Brian White has joined Burke, Inc. as a Senior Account Consultant in Sales and Client Services. He will work for clients in sectors including IT, CPG and retail. More
Motorola has appointed Kenneth C. 'Casey' Keller, Jr. as Executive VP and Chief Marketing Officer, reporting directly to Chairman and CEO Ed Zander. Keller most recently served as Chairman and CEO of Heinz Italy. More
Baltimore is the slowest city in America, according to a recent survey conducted by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). And we're not talking here about downshifting and the 'Slow' movement, we're talking more generic slow movement – waiting in lines at the grocery store, banks, clothes shops and restaurants. More
UK supermarket sales figures from TNS show another buoyant period – sales are up 6% year-on-year. The stats show good news for most of the major groups, in particular Sainsbury's, Waitrose and – as usual – Tesco. More
GfK Mystery Shopping and disability consulting firm Butler New Media this week announced a joint venture giving GfK clients access to Butler's ABILITY Mystery Shopping Panel. The result is claimed to be 'America's first national panel for individuals with disabilities'. More
US-based direct and targeted marketing company Harte-Hanks, Inc. has agreed to acquire technology researcher Aberdeen Group, Inc. for an undisclosed sum. More
Michigan-based custom MR firm Gongos Research has hired Katherine Ephlin as Senior Project Director for its Retail / Services division, which has seen over 50% growth this year. More
UK-based consultancy Illuminas has announced two senior hires. Patricia Rubio joins from Orange as Head of Business Consultancy, while Claudia Strauss from Ipsos MORI becomes Director of Illuminas' Brand Strategy practice. More
US shopping, media and lifestyle analyst Scarborough Research has announced the full accreditation of its core syndicated services by the MRC (Media Rating Council). These include its 75 Top-Tier Local Market Studies and its Multi-Market Study, beginning with the 2006 product year. More
Nielsen//NetRatings has published the first results from its newly launched AdRelevance online ad tracking service in China. Results show the country's computer, automotive and FMCG industries investing heavily in online advertising, and a dramatic growth in overall spend. More
GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) has acquired London-based interactive survey specialist Media Intelligence. The buy gives GMI access to leading edge animated graphics and interactive techniques which will enable its clients to create simulations including product designs and store layouts. More
TNS has announced its unaudited interim results for the six months to 30 June. Unspectacular overall revenue growth of 4.5% (underlying growth 3.0%) reflects a decline in US custom business, while the rest of the group achieved organic revenue growth of almost 6%. More
The smoking ban in Scotland, which came into effect five months ago, has already had a 'major impact' on liquor sales through pubs in Scotland compared to the rest of the country, according to ACNielsen PubTrack. Food sales, however, have risen. More
Tesco has again increased its lead in UK supermarket share, although most of its major competitors have also fared well in a growing market, according to TNS WorldPanel data for the 12 weeks ending 13 August. More
US provider Mediamark Research (MRI) has announced six new segmentation analyses based on consumer attitudes. The six use buying styles, investing, banking, cooking, eating and technology to divide the public into groups such as 'Swayable Shopaholics', 'Conscientious Consumers', 'Tech-Splorers' and 'Tech-Sploiters'. More
ACNielsen has hired Yvonne Lum and Joel Chan as Directors of Client Services for its Customized Research team in Hong Kong. Lum specializes in the retailing industry in general, while Chan will focus on FMCG. More
New product forecasting and consulting specialist BASES has launched DecisionPoint, a tool which models key market factors in the context of a simulated retail shelf, in order to estimate consumer response to a wide variety of marketplace scenarios. More
Healthy eating brands are on the rise in the UK... but so are those associated with indulgence, according to TNS Worldpanel's annual Biggest Brands survey for Marketing magazine. More
Two recent reports from ABI Research discuss the rapid expansion of the market for RFID, the tagging technology that promises a mass of detailed data for retail and other sectors. The agency has reduced its market forecast for 2007, and highlights particular problems establishing standards for RFID in China. More
GfK's first half sales rose 54.6% to Euros 534.4m and adjusted operating income was up 76.3% to Euros 63.8m. Organic sales growth was a healthy 6.2%, ahead of the industry as a whole. The company has also extended the contract of its CEO Professor Dr. Klaus L. Wübbenhorst to 2012, ahead of schedule. More
By the end of 2006, Tesco will not only be UK's biggest food retailer, but also its largest non-food retailer, according to a report published this week by retail analysts Verdict Research, part of the Datamonitor Group. More
BMRB has launched TGI Europa Elite, a survey identifying upmarket European consumers, using a sample of 40,000 adults across France, Germany, Great Britain and Spain. Separately, the firm has also announced a new version of its Compose channel planning tool. More
Michigan-based custom MR firm Gongos Research has moved into a custom-built office in Auburn Hills, reflecting rapid growth this year. At the same time, it has changed its name from Gongos and Associates, Inc. More
Global top twenty agency Opinion Research Corporation has been bought by consumer and business database and marketing firm infoUSA Inc., for $12 per share in cash, valuing the research company at around $134.3 million, including the assumption of debt. More
Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, has signed an agreement designating ACNielsen as its sole provider of consumer panel services, with the aim of tailoring its offer at an individual store level. ACNielsen already provides Wal-Mart with Spectra segmentation and targeting applications and insight. More
Barbara Katz has been appointed as President of US research provider HealthFocus International, a subsidiary of Irwin Broh and Associates. Katz joined the firm only 5 months ago as General Manager. More
US provider OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has appointed David Shanker, previously of IRI, as its new COO and promoted Bruce Friend to President of Media and Entertainment Insights. The company is growing rapidly, rising to 22nd in the Honomichl Top 50 in just 6 years of operation. More
In the UK, Ipsos MORI has hired Susan Purcell and welcomed back Damian Symons as Directors working for its Insight division in the Brand and Marketing Development (BMD) team. Both will report to MD of Insight Mark Burgess. More
Ipsos Insight, the global group's flagship US division, has unveiled a new tool, Innotrack, which measures how well a new product has performed in the market versus expectations. The process includes identification of consumer motivations and deterrents to trial and repeat. More
A recent global survey by Lightspeed Research reveals that nearly 3 out of every 4 respondents blame parents for the rise in obesity in children, while advertisers and food manufacturers were each blamed by only 13% of respondents. More
In the annual Harris Poll of 'Best Brands', just released, Sony tops the list for an impressive seventh consecutive year. Apple sneaks into the top ten for the first time while Microsoft has dropped out – as has General Motors. More
KPMG has this week joined forces with research group SPSL to launch the 'Retail Think Tank' (RTT) aimed at establishing 'the true health and status' of the UK's retail sector. More
ACNielsen US has announced an expanded relationship with natural products sales data firm SPINS Inc. The two will share expertise, collaborate and optimize existing SPINS solutions, and jointly develop new products and services for clients in the health & wellness and natural & organic products industries. More
Outdoor advertising group JCDecaux has launched what it describes as the first ever coverage and frequency system for retail media, developed in conjunction with TNS Worldpanel. More
TNS Australia has promoted Darren Kemp to National Director – Consumer. He has been the agency's Regional Business Development Director for a year, following eight years working on the client side for Diageo. More
Stamford, Connecticut-based consultancy Archstone Consulting has acquired The Hazelton Group, a research-based brand development consulting firm with headquarters in Toronto, Canada. Archstone opened a London office earlier this year and one in Amsterdam late in 2005. More
MR is at the heart of the transformation of Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, according to a speech by President and CEO Lee Scott at a shareholders' meeting last Friday. The 'Wal-Mart Out Front' initiative rests on five 'pillars' of which the first is an MR-based broadening of its customer appeal. More
ABI Research has added RFID analyst Michael Liard to its team studying the booming retail technology. He joins from Venture Development Corp (VDC), where he was practice director for RFID/Automatic Identification. More
Sara Lee Food & Beverage (SLF&B) last week appointed Ravi Parmeswar, previously of Coca-Cola, as Vice President of its Central Insights Group. He will lead the North American consumer, shopper and retailer research and insights teams, as well as providing support to innovation and business planning. More
Synovate is planning further acquisitions, with Internet panel companies and analytics & modelling specialists among the possible targets. Global CEO Adrian Chedore talks exclusively to DRNO about buying companies, keeping people, and how a fast-growing top ten agency can stay 'small'. More
Ipsos Insight has announced a new product testing system, 'Product Precision', using tailored test designs to address business issues that arise throughout the product lifecycle. More
US-based consultancy Technomic, which works for restaurants and food suppliers, has acquired Mount Vernon Strategies, a provider of MR and strategic consulting services to private equity firms and consumer branded companies. More
In the US Simmons Research, part of Experian, has announced a new National Multi-Media Engagement Study to provide ratings for consumers' 'cognitive, behavioral and emotional involvement' with media. More
TNS has released market size figures for British consumption of sandwiches, based on innovative methodology. Panellists text the bar codes of their purchases to the company, allowing it to track their snacking in real-time. More
Finland is the most expensive place in Europe for popular grocery products, while the cheapest countries are Germany and the Netherlands, according to new data from the twice-yearly ACNielsen Euro Price Barometer. The survey reveals huge differences across European countries. More
VNU has launched Executive Perspective, an information service for senior executives shaping company strategies in consumer packaged goods (CPG) and retail sectors. The subscription-based service 'combines the company's journalistic and analytical prowess' from its Business Media and Marketing Information (MI) brands. More
Retail analysis giant Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has appointed John Lawlor as Division President and General Manager of its Panel and Test Solutions business. Lawlor worked for IRI once before, in the early 1990s, but was most recently President of Ipsos-ASI North America. More
A report released this week by Datamonitor reveals that the UK has become a nation of consumer sceptics with less than half (44%) of the population trusting nutritional claims made by food and drink companies. The findings are not unique to the UK, but echoed elsewhere in the world. More
A report released this week by Datamonitor reveals that British consumers spend on average £1,224 a year on eating and drinking out, and this figure is likely to increase to £1,335 by the end of the decade. More
Media investment manager MindShare and research BPO company Pulse Group are joining forces to launch mPulse, a Pan-Asian online research panel study to provide insights into Asian consumer and media behaviour. More
Surprise - researchers at the drinks 'n' donuts giant are not obsessed with coffee wars and dietary health. They set their own agenda, and it's creative to say the least. Paying loyal customers not to use your stores? Regina Lewis, Ph.D, VP of the Consumer and Brand Insights Group, talks in the latest MRWho. More
VNU, parent of ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research, has announced that it has agreed to a public offer from a private-equity consortium including AlpInvest Partners, valuing the company's equity at approximately EUR 7.5 bn in cash, or EUR 28.75 per common share. The option of breaking the company up has been rejected. More
TNS has announced results for the year ended 31 December 2005. Revenue is up 5.7% (adjusted 4.1%) to £999.0m and adjusted operating profit up 9.5% to £112.6m. Strong growth across syndicated services and in custom business in continental Europe and emerging markets contrasted with 'challenging conditions' in the US and UK. More
Kathy Lubner has joined Research International as a Client Service Account Executive in its Chicago office after more than seven years with The NPD Group, where she was a Senior Account Manager in the Foodworld Client Development group. More
Colorado based Market Force Information has announced the acquisition of major mystery shopping provider Shop'n Chek, Inc. The acquisition is described as 'a platform... to launch Market Force's growth strategy', hinting at more mystery shopping buys as well as investment in technology. More
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) and comScore Networks have announced they will work together to offer clients improved product and advertising testing. The offer will combine IRI's BehaviorScan(R) in-market testing solution and comScore's advanced MR and targeting capabilities. More
GfK's preliminary results, published today, confirm the company's upbeat forecast from a week ago and reveal what the group calls 'a year of extraordinary success'. Total sales of 935.4m euros, up 39%, include 198.0m euros for NOP World companies and 737.4m euros for the rest of the group. Organic growth was 6.5%. More
The GfK Group has a majority share in a new joint venture in Israel, and has announced several other recent moves to expand its global presence. They include an increased stake in Swiss agency Research Matters, the establishment of a branch for its HealthCare division in Thailand and the integration of New York's Audits and Surveys. More
London-based agency SPA has launched a new qualitative research approach called Lifestyle Tours, aimed at giving clients a broader understanding of a range of lifestyle issues for a given target audience. The service is offered on a syndicated basis. More
US agency Simmons Research, part of Experian, has announced the accreditation of its flagship survey, the National Consumer Study (NCS), by the Media Rating Council (MRC). More
The membership of the British Market Research Association (BMRA) has voted in favour of proposals to integrate its services into the Market Research Society (MRS), with effect from April 2006. The BMRA will cease to exist as of April Fools' Day. More
US market analysis and modeling firm DataMind has announced the inaugural release of its Expected Value Analysis(TM) (EVA) product suite, which it says will give 'any company' the ability to accurately forecast sales. More
Global information solutions company Experian has acquired Catalist, a specialist in information on the retail petroleum and garage forecourt market. Catalist will become part of Experian's Business Strategies division. More
Ipsos MORI has promoted Tim Maton from AD to Director of its Retail and Leisure Division, reporting to its recently appointed head, Susanne Goller. More
UK-based agency Nunwood has appointed three Senior Account Directors - Gill Redfern, Kathryn Boxall, and Ann Thompson - to its Global Insight team. More
US-based Venture2 is offering marketers the opportunity to attend parties at the homes of wealthy Florida families - all in the name of research. The parties, part of the Exclusive Luxury Market Study, are designed to provide a glimpse into the lives, opinions and desires of luxury consumers. More
TGI, BMRB's continuous survey of the UK population, is introducing 'word of mouth' questions to help marketers make the most of viral marketing, by enabling them to target and understand the most influential and knowledgeable consumers. More
Ipsos announced yesterday that it has acquired Camelford Graham, a Toronto-based company that specialises in qualitative research, and focuses on the FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and financial services sectors. More
The latest UK supermarket share figures from the TNS Worldpanel show that, while Tesco remains dominant, there is increased competition as both Sainsbury's and Morrisons fight back. Year-on-year sales growth across all stores is 4.4% - the highest since September 2004. More
Business Objects, a provider of business intelligence (BI) software, has launched Trade Promotion Effectiveness Analytics, a new tool to help consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies measure the impact of trade promotions. It has also released an updated version of its BusinessObjects XI application. More
Decima Research in Canada is working with web publisher the 50Plus Group to conduct research into consumers aged 50+. Meanwhile, the UK's Age Concern Research Services has joined forces with magazine publishers and media agencies to launch quarterly surveys of the 50+ market. More
Canadian NRG Research Group has opened two new offices in Alberta, to be led by Derek Blair, formerly of Ipsos North America. Other new members of staff include food and drink specialist Greg Turner and consultant Rod Love, an expert on politics and the media. More
UK agency Opinion Research Business (ORB) has appointed Johnny Heald as MD, taking over from his father, Gordon, who will assume the role of Chairman. More
A new study from Information Resources, Inc (IRI) focuses on eating trends and highlights the product innovations that can meet consumers' growing health concerns. The report, based on analysis of consumer and retail data, is designed to help manufacturers identify profitable health-oriented opportunities. More
Increased sales of low-GI foods, innovations in the beer market, better customer service at small grocery stores, and dollar stores going upmarket. These are among the top retail trends for 2006, according to analysis from ACNielsen and fellow VNU company Spectra Marketing. More
US marketing information company Claritas has launched PRIZM NE Restaurant Audit Profiles, an information product that combines the company's PRIZM segmentation system with an industry-specific survey to identify which segments are most likely to eat at certain types and brands of restaurants. More
UK agency Ipsos MORI has launched a new research technique, Line Evolution, to help manufacturers optimise their brand portfolios. The technique aims to predict the performance of new and existing lines, adding consumer insight to traditional measures of the total unduplicated reach and frequency (TURF) of products. More
Chime Communications, which owns the UK's Opinion Leader Research, has acquired a 55% share in Ledbury Research, a London-based MR consultancy that specialises in researching luxury brands and affluent consumers. Ledbury will become part of Opinion Leader Research. More
US agencies Information Resources, Inc (IRI) and Acxiom have launched a new consumer segmentation and targeted marketing suite, combining information from IRI's household panel with Acxiom's InfoBase data and Personicx consumer segmentation solution. The new tool aims to target specific consumers who are likely to buy particular product categories. More
UK online research specialist Virtual Surveys has introduced VirtualTURF, a new product designed to help clients maximise the potential of their product range. It uses the power of the Internet to enhance the classic Total Unduplicated Reach and Frequency (TURF) technique. More
The UK's Product of the Year awards ceremony took place last night. The 26 winners - who include Häagen-Dazs Cream Crisp, Gillette M3Power Razor, Flash Car Wash and Elastoplast's silver healing plasters - were chosen following a TNS survey of 12,500 consumers throughout the UK. More
Marketers should target single adults - a group set to make up 45% of the UK population by 2010, according to Singledom, a new research study from Carat. Meanwhile, a study from Deloitte & Touche USA advises retailers to meet the needs of another growing group - older consumers. More
Last week saw the launch of two agencies offering word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing research, Keller Fay and me2u marketing. Meanwhile, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating complaints that some WOM marketers are misleading consumers. More
57% of US consumers could not recall any new products launched in 2005, despite a 2.6% increase in ad spending on launches. The figure comes from the fourth annual 'Most Memorable New Product Launch Survey', conducted by InsightExpress. More
Just 3.5% of shoppers think retailers' online advertising is effective, according to new research from the USA's National Retail Foundation (NRF). The study also reveals that customer loyalty is dwindling, and that, while shoppers want loyalty programs, they are not prepared to divulge personal information in return. More
TNSSport is planning to measure the impact of World Cup sponsorship on the sales of sponsors' brands. The new service will use TNS Superpanels across Europe, Asia and the Americas to conduct continuous measurement during the World Cup. More
Mat Lintern is rejoining food and drink specialist MMR Research Worldwide as a Research Director in its UK office. Meanwhile, Healthcare Research Worldwide - a division of the MMR Group - has hired Nicola Maxwell as Associate Director. More
TNS is renaming its various continuous consumer panels in Asia Pacific and the Middle East 'Worldpanel', in line with the panels used in 50 countries worldwide. The rebranding is designed to provide clearer and more co-ordinated services to international clients. More
US-based Internet research agency OTX (Online Testing eXchange) has opened its first European office in London. Ian Wright, a former board director at Ipsos UK, will lead the company's European operations. More
A new study from US agency Information Resources, Inc (IRI) recommends that retailers should look at the state of the economy as a whole to help them forecast trends and plan new product developments in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and healthcare markets. More
US online research firm Knowledge Networks has partnered with interactive publisher morefocus to launch KnowledgeCommunities - a new service offering ongoing marketing feedback from consumers in niche groups such as ailment sufferers, home improvement buffs, and wine enthusiasts. More
Over the last year, 78m US citizens read books, 68m barbecued, and 3m took part in kickboxing. These are just some of the comprehensive findings of the 125th edition of the US Census Bureau's new Statistical Abstract of the United States 2006. More
WPP companies the Henley Centre India and IMRB International have launched a new consumer tracking service known as Wallet Monitor, to map spending by Indian households. Initial results show the emergence of an 'individualistic, indulgent, happy and confident Indian consumer who enjoys spending money on personal grooming and entertainment'. More
Shops have not improved their level of customer service over the holiday season, according to a survey of more than 1,100 mystery shoppers conducted by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). The Association says retail staff need to be more helpful, and take more advantage of opportunities to up-sell. More
New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that two million UK couples are 'living apart together' - in a regular relationship but living in separate homes. The figures also show an ageing population - with the 85+ age group growing by 30% since 1991 - and a rise in the proportion of Welsh speakers. More
Aegis Group, owner of Synovate, has acquired Univero - the largest independent market research network in Scandinavia - for £10m. Univero is the holding company for MMI Univero (Norway), TEMO Univero and LUI Univero (Sweden), Vilstrup Univero (Denmark) and Fieldwork Scandinavia. More
US research and consulting firm Cheskin has hired Jim Martin as Executive VP and Business Development Director in its New York office. He will be responsible for developing the company's innovation consulting practice, and will manage consumer goods and technology accounts. More
Corporate America's reputation has declined slightly over the last year, according to the latest National Corporate Reputation Survey from Harris Interactive. Of the USA's 60 most visible companies, the study places Johnson & Johnson top, followed by Coca Cola and Google. More
Shares in VNU, owner of ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research, rose more than 4% on Friday after reports that two private equity firms were considering making bids for the Netherlands-based company. More
VNU has appointed John Lewis, CEO of Knowledge Networks, as President and CEO of ACNielsen USA. Lewis, who previously worked in marketing for ACNielsen, will report to Steven Schmidt, recently named President and CEO of VNU Marketing Information, on top of his existing role as global head of ACNielsen. More
US online spending is 23% higher this holiday season than in 2004, according to comScore Networks' latest figures, which closely match its predictions made in mid-November. Meanwhile, Nielsen//NetRatings reports a 33% rise in online shopping compared with last year - with a staggering 238% growth in books, music and video. More
VNU Marketing Information has acquired Decisions Made Easy (DME) - a provider of software designed to help FMCG suppliers analyse sales and supply chain data. DME, which has offices in the UK, US and Australia, will be managed as a unit of VNU Marketing Information. Financial terms were not disclosed. More
The Kantar Group and US over-50s advocacy organisation AARP have announced details of their new joint research venture, dedicated to understanding older consumers. The new organisation, called Focalyst and led by marketing industry veteran Mike Irwin, will conduct an annual lifestyle survey of 35,000 consumers. More
ACNielsen U.S. has this week announced the completion of the major program to expand its Homescan(R) consumer panel. In two years, the panel's size has more than doubled to 125,000 households providing insights and information for the CPG industry. More
US agency the NPD Group has promoted four of its Directors - Stephen Baker, Steve Flavin, Bruce Schnur and Martin Zagorsek - to Vice President positions. Between them, they take responsibility for technology tracking; automotive and convenience retailing sales; corporate products; and games and software. More
A mix of reward points and special privileges is the best way to influence shoppers' behaviour, according to research from US loyalty marketing specialist Colloquy. The company's new white paper outlines the results of a research project designed to analyse the most effective loyalty marketing techniques. More
The US mystery shopping industry grew to nearly $600 million in 2004, as the number of mystery shops increased by 12.2% to 8.1 million. These figures come from the US Mystery Shopping Providers Association's first attempt to quantify the industry. More
US online agency InsightExpress is expanding its Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) division with the appointment of Barbara Wade as Director. Wade was previously a Director at Ipsos Insight. More
European consumers have less trust in food and drinks firms than in banks, insurance companies, utilities or car dealers, according to a new report from Datamonitor. The report also says nearly half of Europeans lack trust in mainstream media channels, and that trust in businesses overall is 'rapidly diminishing'. More
A forthcoming conference organised by the UK's Market Research Society (MRS) focuses on the importance of researching the growing ageing population, and the challenges of reaching older consumers. Speakers include the founder of Steel Magnolia, an MR consultancy specialising in the 50+ market. More
More than two fifths of people using the services of UK charity FareShare are unable to buy food on a regular basis, according to an Ipsos MORI survey. A separate survey by Communicate Research finds 42% of MPs think the government should have a statutory duty to tackle food poverty. More
Along with the Christmas decorations comes a flurry of Christmas spending forecasts. Research from Maritz suggests consumers plan to spend less than last year, while comScore and Hitwise predict a boom for online retailers. More
ACNielsen has become the full owner of ACNielsen Chile, purchasing the 49% stake previously held by Cadem, its partner in the country since 1993. The company says the acquisition is part of its commitment to develop its services in key Latin American markets. More
US-based comScore Networks is expanding its CPG Marketing Solutions group with the appointment of Joe Famalette as VP of Sales and John Golanty as VP of Client Services. The company has also hired John Miniati as VP of Retail and Technology Solutions. More
The GfK Group has announced results for the third quarter of 2005. The integration of NOP World is said to be proceeding according to plan, and the group has already achieved 95.6% of its order volume forecast for 2005. Sales for the first 9 months are up 28.8% vs Q1-3 2004 to EUR 627.5m. More
Millward Brown has launched D&A (Demand and Activation), a new framework to help marketers understand 'the complexities of the consumer journey to purchase'. D&A quantifies the contribution of factors which create demand for categories and brands, as well as those responsible for final choice. More
ACNielsen U.S. has introduced what it describes as 'the first-ever census-based reporting on the status of in-store displays' for the CPG industry. Promotion Tracker reports across multiple categories at five leading grocery retailers representing 40% of US chain supermarket volume. More
The UK's Market Research Society (MRS) has announced keynote speakers and two new features for its March 2006 annual Conference. Entrepreneur Richard Reed, founder of Innocent Drinks, and UCL Professor of Psychology Adrian Furnham will present two contrasting views of research. More
US MR firm Decision Analyst has appointed social psychologist Scott Hanson as a Senior Research Manager to design and direct major research projects, mainly in the entertainment, food, drink, and service industries. More
European online research agency MetrixLab added another 1 million Euros to its turnover in the third quarter of this year, representing a 71% increase compared with the same period last year. The company's net profits grew by 44% over the same period. More
US-based SmartAnalyst has appointed Steve Girling as VP and MD for business development. Girling was previously VP of business development at benchmarking company Evalubase Research. More
Recent studies from NPD and Packaged Facts find US consumers eating more takeaway meals and using fewer fresh products, while also becoming increasingly concerned about food safety. Meanwhile, dietary concerns are spreading to Australia, where a TNS study finds 67% of women overweight, and a third of teenagers underweight. More
Information Resources, Inc (IRI) has announced details of the third CPG and Retail Summit, taking place in San Francisco in February. Programmes are also available for ESOMAR's Healthcare and Brandmatters conferences, happening in New York in February, and ESOMAR is inviting papers for May's Global Diversity and Innovate events. More
UK online polling firm YouGov is using its Internet panel to compile BrandIndex, an evaluation of more than 11,000 consumer brands. Initial findings, based on 30,000 interviews, put Tesco as UK consumers' leading brand, while McDonalds and Sunny Delight are both in the bottom ten. More
One in ten of the world's population now shops online, according to a new global survey from ACNielsen. In separate studies, the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts a 5% increase for US spending this holiday season, and GQ magazine finds US men increasingly succumbing to the pleasures of shopping. More
Media measurement specialist Cymfony has launched Orchestra, a market intelligence dashboard application that integrates data from mainstream media (MSM) and consumer-generated media (CGM) including blogs. Meanwhile Intelliseek has entered into an agreement to provide AOL with daily blog data and trend analysis from its BlogPulse search engine. More
US online MR firm Compete, Inc has promoted T.J. Mahony to MD of Intelligent Reach Products, and Adam Guy to MD of its Wireless Practice. The announcement coincides with the launch of Voicebox, Compete's communications and loyalty platform, designed to help marketers extend and deepen customer relationships. More
UK online survey specialist YouGov has announced 48% turnover growth, and 47% growth in profit before tax, for the year ending 31 July 2005. The company, which floated on the UK's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in April, saw turnover increase from £1.9m to 2.9m between 2004 and 2005. More
Global research group Ipsos has acquired MORI, the UK's largest independently owned MR agency, in a deal worth £88m. Ipsos UK and MORI will combine to form a new company to be known as Ipsos MORI. The purchase will almost double Ispos' UK revenue. More
The US government's National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has appointed Westat to collect and analyse data for its National Children's Study - planned to be the largest study ever undertaken to assess the effects of the environment on child and adult health. More
TNS has worked with academics to develop a panel of 'intuitive and analytic' thinkers, to provide creative input into new product development research. Creative Minds is the second sub-panel of the company's '6thdimension' access panel, following the Sports sub-panel launched last month. More
The latest Consumer Intentions and Actions (CIA) survey from BIGresearch finds US consumer confidence falling, with shoppers picking budget brands, planning lower holiday spends, and using their cars less. However, although consumers are spending less on everyday goods, purchase intentions for cars, computers and major home improvements are on the rise. More
The American Marketing Association (AMA) has presented its annual Charles Coolidge Parlin Marketing Research Award to Howard Moskowitz, President and CEO of Moskowitz Jacobs, for 'substantial contributions and unswerving dedication' to MR. Previous recipients include George Gallup and Arthur C Nielsen. More
US-based Insights Research Group has appointed Michael Rollosson, formerly President of MR and database analysts Rollosson Analytics, as VP, responsible for the day-to-day management of the company. More
US agency InsightExpress continues its rapid expansion with four more appointments, three of which are newly created positions. Patricia DePietto joins as Group Director for Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) from Ipsos, while the company has also hired a Marketing & Communications Manager and two more members of its Client Service team. More
US-based SRC has launched a UK version of its DemographicsNow business intelligence web site - the first of several planned international launches. The site uses a consumer and market profiling tool, providing companies with online life-stage profiles and other demographic information for any selected area in the UK. More
Competition in the UK grocery market remains as fierce as ever, according to figures from TNS Superpanel. Tesco's leading market share is still creeping up, but Sainsbury's and Asda are also continuing to grow. Meanwhile, analysis from Scarborough Research in the US defines distinct markets for discount stores Target and Wal-Mart. More
ESOMAR wound up the 58th Congress in Cannes today and announced the winners of its awards. Speakers from The Leading Edge agency and Carlton & United Brewers, Australia, won the Best Paper Overall Award, while employees of Brainjuicer, Maritz and LG Electronics were also recognised. More
UK business information company Datamonitor has acquired retail analysis specialist Verdict Research Limited for a maximum consideration of £4.7 million in cash. More
ESOMAR's 2005 Congress, Making a Difference - The Impact of Powerful Research - opened today in Cannes, attended by 1000+ market and social professionals from 75 countries worldwide. The Congress also heralded ESOMAR's rebrand, and its renewed commitment to improving the image of MR - a theme touched on by several of the day's speakers. More
This morning's main session at ESOMAR Congress gave delegates an update on major companies' attempts to put customers' views and needs at the heart of their business. Some like it hot - watching consumers in their kitchens - while others take a cool look at customer loyalty stats. DRNO News Editor Tessa Russell reports live from Cannes. More
China's consumer prices rose at the slowest pace in almost two years last month as clothing and mobile phones became cheaper, according to figures from China Mainland Marketing Research Co. Meanwhile, a Kline study finds double-digit growth in the cosmetics and toiletries market in China. More
US agency Simmons is to apply parent company Experian's 'TrueTouch' classification system to the results of its Spring 2005 National Consumer Study. The tool is designed to provide a clear picture of the best audience, message, channel and timing for marketing campaigns. More
Senior UK marketer Angus Porter today becomes Global CEO of the Added Value Group, WPP's marketing insight agency. Porter, who oversaw the rebrand of bank Abbey and has also worked for BT and Mars, will report to Eric Salama, Kantar's Chairman. He replaces Tamara Ingram, now CEO of ad agency Grey. More
Two international products have made their French debuts. MR and information giant Experian has launched its consumer classification system, Mosaic, in the country, categorising consumers into 14 social groups and 52 types; and movie tracker Online Testing eXchange (OTX) is another recent arrival. More
US agency Bellomy Research Inc (BRI) has promoted apparel and textile specialist Karen Lefler to VP, Client Service, reporting directly to President Scott Layne. The firm has also recruited Thomas Hendrix as a Research Manager in its consumer packaged goods team. More
Total US advertising expenditure for the first half of 2005 rose to $70.5 billion, a 4.5% increase from the same period last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence. Figures from Nielsen Media Research are slightly higher, showing an increase of 5.7% over the same period. More
With effect from today, GfK is merging NOP Research Group (the UK arm of NOP World) and GfK Martin Hamblin UK to form a new combined company - GfK NOP Ltd, based in London. This follows GfK's acquisition of NOP World in June, and the establishment of GfK Custom Research North America in July. More
Asians' political views of the West have little impact on their consumption of Western brands, according to Millward Brown. GMI's latest research reaches similar conclusions: while a third of consumers worldwide boycott at least one brand, this is mainly due to unfair practices and unhealthy products rather than country of origin. More
Ian Rowlands and Damien Flannagan, former employees of the UK's Quaestor Research, have launched a new consumer agency, Gusto Research, based in Leeds. Gusto will provide qual and online quant surveys, and aims to help clients drive their action plans by offering free post-debrief workshops. More
Time-pressed households in South East Asia are relying on ready meals and snacks more than ever before, according to findings from the TNS Asiapanel. However, Asia is not turning into a continent of couch potatoes: the findings also indicate high levels of interest in health, diet and exercise. More
The latest Simmons National Consumer Study is the first to include findings on consumer attitudes to product placement. They reveal that around half of US consumers are happy to see branded products on TV and in movies – but fewer than a quarter remember the brands in their favourite show. More
ACNielsen has introduced a new service to allow consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers to benchmark the progress of multi-country product launches, and to help them predict the likelihood of success. The service covers more than 90 countries worldwide. More
ACNielsen is rolling out its Homescan consumer panel service, together with its ScanTrack retail measurement technology, in Thailand. ScanTrack automatically measures sales and their relation to promotions, while Homescan tracks consumer purchases and trends. More
According to the annual survey conducted by TNS for Marketing magazine, Britain's most purchased brands are all convenience foods. The highest value categories overall are soft drinks, alcohol, and chocolate, but there are also significant sales increases for healthier brands including Flora, Muller and Danone. More
New analysis from Datamonitor lists ten overarching trends that it says will shape future products and services. The report states that, in order to retain customer loyalty, companies must capitalise on at least one of these 'mega-trends', which reflect changing attitudes to age, gender and lifestyles. More
A new study from US-based ABI Research focuses on ways to integrate information from radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging technology with retailers' systems to aid decision-making and improve profitability. More
US-based mystery shopping specialist Bare Associates International is opening a new corporate office in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ronaldo Carlos de Oliveira, Director of Business Development, will head it up. More
Four new reports on healthy eating and its converse, from both the USA and UK, show that while government guidelines and campaigns can boost awareness of healthier diets, they can't always compete with the urge to indulge. More
UK-based research and consulting firm Simpson Carpenter has added six new research staff over the last few months, with new appointments in its Retail and Consumer, Telecoms and Technology, Advanced Methods, and Automotive departments. More
Four fifths of consumers in Europe, the Pacific and North America think that 'private label' or supermarket own-brands are a good alternative to other brands, according to ACNielsen's latest study. In developing markets, where own-label products are less well established, consumers are more likely to view them as inferior. More
Clinton Klein has joined US-based MR and consulting firm Decision Analyst as Senior Director of Business Development. More
UK agency BMRB will carry out the 2005 Childcare and Early Years Providers survey for the Department for Education and Skills, and will also contribute to the Health and Safety Executive's survey of workplaces. The agency has also been appointed to compile a panel of premium-brand consumers for Red Media. More
Two conferences taking place in Miami this autumn will provide an insight into the changing marketplace. Geospace International is presenting new multicultural market intelligence at its summit in October, while an Institute of International Research event in November looks at future trends influencing consumers and businesses. More
European online research agency MetrixLab is opening a new London office, with Roy Patel, formerly of Nielsen//NetRatings, as its UK Commercial Director and Nathalie Vaandrager from Kraft Foods as a Senior Business Consultant. More
Sony has topped the Harris Poll of best brands for the sixth year running. Coca Cola drops from two to four while Microsoft, which fell from the top ten last year, reappears at number nine. Meanwhile, analysis by Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) says Wilson and Nike are the top sports brands at Wimbledon. More
Indian-based market research firm Kaybase has joined forces with US telephone interviewing specialist Issues And Answers to work on multi-country research studies. More
The latest UK grocery market share figures from TNS Superpanel show that Tesco's growth continues apace. The supermarket has increased sales by 11% over the last year, taking its market share from 28.1% to 30.4%. More
US agency Information Resources, Inc (IRI) has appointed Thomas Blischok as President of Retail Solutions, Strategic Consulting, and Integrated Solutions. He will lead the company's new Business Insights and Consulting Group. More
Experian has launched a new consumer profile analysis, Mosaic Ireland. The first figures highlight the rise of the 'seriously single', a growth in the number of wealthy families, and increased multiculturalism. More
HealthFocus International (HFI), a US agency specialising in consumer health and nutrition trends, has appointed Rohit Vaidya as VP for Research and Analysis. More
Russian company Nextep Promotion is the latest addition to the International Mystery Shopping Alliance (IMSA). Nextep's field force includes more than 1,000 mystery shoppers covering the whole of Russia, as well as the Ukraine and Kazakhstan. More
The cost of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology remains a stumbling block in the consumer goods market, according to AMR Research. Only 8% of companies surveyed are currently using the new technology but another 23% are piloting it and 12% have plans to implement it this year. More
Michel Maury, International Executive Director of Trade Services at Information Resources Inc (IRI), has been appointed as President of IRI France. More
Celebrities' salaries, photo printing, and an alternative web broswer drove the biggest visitor increases to web sites last month, according to comScore. The figures also reveal Americans using the web to make the most of vacations - from buying cars and sports equipment to booking travel and finding cooking tips. More
Ipsos has recruited James (Jim) T. Smith as Chairman and CEO of Ipsos in North America. Smith, who joins from US agency Delve where he was Chairman and CEO, will also have a seat on the Ipsos Management Board's Executive Committee. He replaces Simon Kooyman, who is taking a sabbatical. More
The MR landscape is to undergo a seismic shift as VNU, the world's biggest research provider, buys IMS Health, the next biggest in the US, in a transaction valued at 5.8 billion Euros ($7.0 billion). VNU's CEO is confident that the deal will quickly lead to major cost savings and new revenues. More
TNS today announced 'weaker than anticipated' growth in UK and US custom research. It expects overall revenue growth for this year to be line with the market at about 4% - a more cautious prediction than earlier in the year, when the company said it hoped to outpace rivals. More
Food Science Australia and Sydney-based consumer agency Sensory Solutions have announced a partnership to offer enhanced tools, standards and training for market research for the country's food industry. 4247 More
UK consumer and market analyst CACI has introduced lifestyle information to its PeopleUK (PUK) classification tool. It can now place every adult in the UK into one of 50 consumer types, according to the individual's life stage, family composition, wealth, housing and leisure activities. More
UK agency Nunwood Consulting has launched a new research package for retail Category Managers. The product, which promises time and cost savings, is aimed at providing insight into customer motivations, rather than simply relying on sales figures. More
UK agency Leapfrog Research & Planning has been acquired by marketing services company Cello Group plc, for a total £6m in cash, loan notes and new ordinary shares. Cello listed on AIM in November 2004 and already owns four other companies including healthcare specialist Insight Research Group. More
Draft New York, part of the Draft Worldwide marketing communications group, has merged two existing units into a new Insight Services group. The aim is to bring together insights from both teams to unlock what it has coined 'Datatude' – a combined analysis of consumers' behaviour and attitudes. More
Mintel's first 'Childhood Obesity' report estimates that half of UK parents take little interest in their children's eating habits. Half the children surveyed claim to eat whatever they like, with bread, crisps and chocolate among their favourites. Meanwhile, 44% of all girls are trying to lose weight, and 41% feel guilty about eating. More
ESA, a UK-based retail and trade research company, has appointed Michael Hyatt as Data Processing Executive in its operations team, while Jeminee Patel joins the projects team as Senior Executive. More
British shoppers are buying more premium foods, drinks and toiletries than ever according to a new report from Datamonitor. Spend on speciality products such as hand-made, origin-specific food, drink and personal care products is expected to exceed £4.5bn in the UK by 2009, up from £3.4bn in 2004. More
US online agency InsightExpress has appointed Marie Minyo as a Group Director and Marriott Dowden as a Director in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sector. More
ACNielsen has announced the launch of a new Global Consumer Panel Services (CPS) unit to enhance its growing international panel capabilities. Robert Tomei, formerly the General Manager of the US Homescan panel, has been appointed as President of the unit. More
Ipsos-Insight has appointed Becki Meyer as VP leading its Consumer Products Division, based in Cincinnati. More
According to the latest TNS Asiapanel consumer purchasing data released recently, more consumers than ever are making a move towards a healthier lifestyle. More
CPG, Retail, and Healthcare specialist Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has appointed Sunil (Sunny) Garga as President of its Analytic Insights Group. Garga was previously President and COO of Marketing Management Analytics, Inc. (MMA). More
Research Now have announced a new online panel of 5,000 plus new and expectant mothers, developed in partnership with parenting experts Bounty. The panel makes use of Bounty's database of more than 8.5 million mums and dads, the largest in the UK. More
UK agency Holden Pearmain has appointed Guy Holcroft as an Associate Director. He joins from SGA Research International where he worked on extensive volumetric studies for FMCG clients. More
Paris-based ARTeam, the holding company for agencies QCG and Socioscan, is to become part of Synovate following its acquisition by Aegis Group. More
Retail specialist ESA has added two to its Head Office team. Michael Virks joins as Data Processing Manager and Melanie Banks in the newly created role of Business Improvement Administrator. More
Ipsos has appointed Jasmine Hoye as an Account Manager in its Agribusiness, Natural Resources & Environment Division in Australia. She was previously an AM at Millward Brown. More
America's retailers are feeling positive and forecasting steady growth through a period of change, according to the Shopping in America: Spring 2005 Retailer Survey. The survey was conducted on the opening day of the annual ICSC convention in Las Vegas. More
Daily Research News has appointed a full-time News Editor, who will start in June. Tessa Russell joins from Which? magazine where she has worked for the last eight years, most recently as an Assistant Editor leading the food and health team. More
Synovate has acquired CORAL Pacific Inc., a Tokyo-based research business servicing CPG, primarily in the areas of brand and advertising tracking studies and product testing. More
An influx of news in the UK retail sector. NOPWorld has today announced the winning of a contract for mystery shopping for Kwik Save supermarkets, and ESA has this week retained its mystery shopping contract for Tesco Ireland. Meanwhile MINTEL reports Britain's tea-drinking on the wane and IGD says convenience store takings are set to grow. More
GfK has acquired majority shareholdings in Canada's Research Dynamics Inc. and Chile's Adimark S. A., expanding its Custom Research presence in the Americas. It has also bought the remaining shares in geomarketing specialists MACON AG in Germany. More
ESOMAR will be holding its 58th Annual Congress in the glamorous setting of Cannes from 18 – 21 September 2005, with around 1,000 MR and marketing professionals in attendance. This year's theme is 'Making a difference. The impact of powerful research'. More
Arbitron Inc. and VNU have agreed to deploy a pilot panel of c.14,500 participants in 6,250 households by the end of this year, as a demonstration of the 'Project Apollo' national service collecting multimedia and purchase information from US consumers. More
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has launched Trade Performance(TM) solution, offering CPG manufacturers a single enterprise application for analysis, planning and execution of trade promotions across all company divisions. More
Online fieldwork and panel specialist Research Now has appointed Jo Winning, former Account Director at Lightspeed Research, as its Client Service Director. Winning will combine client service responsibilities with new business development and will focus on media, FMCG and Financial Services. More
The BMRA has published its league table of UK research agencies for 2004. Whilst we remain cautious given problems in previous years with interpretation, there are some notable highlights. Total turnover for the sector was just under £1.3bn (up 5.4%), with international business in particular recovering strongly. More
UK retail and trade research specialist ESA has announced turnover growth of 8% in its 25th anniversary year, 2004. Although well below the 35% achieved in 2003, when it was the fastest growing large research agency in the UK, the 2004 figure is still well above the industry average. More
Harris Interactive® has added another member to its Global Network. Market Team is an independent MR and retail audit firm based in Bogota, Colombia. The company was established in 1994 and conducts research in Ecuador, Central America and the Caribbean region as well as in its home country. More
IRI has bought out the remainder of Mosaic InfoForce, L.P. (MIF), a supplier of in-store audits formed as a joint venture with the Mosaic Group, Inc. MIF measures perimeter merchandising, display, shelf, and front-end store conditions across all classes of retailer. More
German-owned GfK has won the bidding for NOP World, acquiring it from United Business Media for £383 million (c.EUR 550m) in cash. The transaction remains subject to approval of the competition authorities in the United States and in Germany, but GfK says approval is expected at the end of May. More
GfK has announced 'a year of extraordinary success' with sales up 12.8% to EUR 671.7m and a margin of 13.6%, putting the Group 'top of the market research sector in terms of profitability'. EBIT including income from participations increased by 31.2% to EUR 91.1m and the dividend by around 43% to EUR 0.30. More
Greenfield Online has announced the completed acquisition of fellow online survey specialist Ciao AG for cash plus shares to a total value of c.$150 million. The move creates a major new global force in Internet panel research. More
The UK's grocery wholesaling market will reach £18.3bn by 2009, from £16.7bn today, according to Food and grocery researcher IGD. This steady overall growth reflects stronger performance for delivered (3.5% per annum forecast) and near stagnation (0.5% growth only) for Cash & Carry. More
Three UK-based Directors of Research International are leaving to found a new agency, Engage Research. Deborah Sleep, Marie Sutton and Lyndsay Peck all held senior roles in what was the Consumer Division until the restructuring of Dec 2004. All three have a focus on consumer & market strategy and innovation research. More
VNU has announced a number of new services and initiatives at the Consumer 360 event in the USA. They include CBI, a proprietary integrated data solution for CPG companies; new methodologies with the ambitious goal of 'tracking retail sales across all outlets', globally; two new consumer insights services based on Homescan®; and a tracking service and consumer panel for ethnic consumers. More
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has appointed author, professor and retail analytics expert Dr. Robert C. Blattberg in an advisory role as its Chief Analytics Officer. His role will include input to the development of the company's next generation of analytics solutions. More
ACNielsen US and SPINS have expanded their SPINSscan Conventional tracking service, which gives detailed coverage of sales of natural and organic products across grocery, drug, and mass merchandise retail outlets. More
The Chinese grocery market will grow by 65% to $456 billion (£240 billion) in the next five years, according to food and grocery think tank IGD. The new report 'Retailing in China' highlights the diversity of Chinese consumers and the challenges facing retailers. More
TNS last night declared Marks and Spencer Britain's 'Retail Brand of the Year', at the Retail Week Awards ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. M&S received 50% more votes than second-placed Asda, in a poll of the agency's 15,000 FashionTrak consumer panellists. More
US agency Bellomy Research has promoted Lynn Dube to Vice President – Client Service and Kimberly Cameron to Senior Research Manager. More
Rapid-rising UK-based agency Nunwood Consulting has announced five new appointments this month, in its quantitative, qualitative and brand communication teams. More
TNS has today announced extensive development plans for its global consumer panel service Worldpanel, including the expansion of its UK FMCG consumer tracker, Superpanel, from 15,000 to 25,000 households. More
ACNielsen will expand its European panel coverage from approximately 45,000 to just under 70,000 households by the end of 2006, the company announced this week. The expansion includes the key markets of the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Portugal. More
Aegis Group plc has announced strong preliminary results for 2004, acknowledging a good contribution from its market research arm, Synovate, which almost doubled revenues in the EMEA region and added 24.4% to turnover worldwide. Organic growth at 8.3% is well above the estimated industry average of 4.25%. More
Synovate has acquired Sydney-based AZTEC Information Systems. AZTEC supplies market research services to retailers, manufacturers and brand owners based on grocery, liquor and pharmacy retailers' EPOS or 'scan' data in Australia and New Zealand. More
TNS has announced its results for the year ended 31 December 2004, the first full year since the acquisition of NFO WorldGroup, Inc. (NFO) in July 2003. Revenue increased 17.4% to £945.3m and underlying revenue up 4.1%. Operating profit is up 28% to £102.0m while operating margin increased 0.9% to 10.8%. More
The vast majority of British adults (86%) make at least one complaint to a service provider each year, according to the new 'Service in Britain' survey by Andrew Smith Research and Research Now. The major utilities, telecoms providers and supermarkets top the list of target organisations. More
Synovate has acquired Belgium-based Columbus Quanti, a medium sized quant agency with offices in Ghent, employing around 40 staff and known for work in the telecoms, FMCG, finance, and public utility sectors. More
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has announced the US launch of its daily, point-of-sale data on-demand platform MarketKnowledge(TM), promised last autumn. It includes daily data from seven launch retailers: Albertsons, A&P, Brookshire Grocery Company, Giant Eagle, Fred's, Food Lion, and Walgreens. More
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has announced an 'outstanding year' and given details of its 'ongoing transformation and aggressive plans'. The company says it signed over $110m worth of global new CPG and retailer research business over the past five quarters, along with more than $650m in renewals over the last two years. More
Chinese agency CTR Market Research, part of TNS, has given further details of the ad spend increase for the region announced in DRNO recently. The top advertising category in 2004 was Cosmetics & Toiletries, followed by Foodstuff, Pharmaceuticals, Retail & Services and Real Estate. More
Senior figures from some of the UK's largest companies, including Barclays, BA, BT, Sainsbury's and the Post Office, will feature at Marketing Week's annual Insight event in April. 'Consumer Insight Unleashed' will address the integration of insight into businesses. More
After a long search, world MR association ESOMAR has appointed a new Director General - Véronique Jeannin joins from water company Danone Springs of Eden. DRNO reported the impending departure of the previous DG Ted Vonk a year ago next week. More
The NPD Group has appointed Randy Smith as Group President with responsibility for leading several NPD divisions: NPD Foodworld, NPD Automotive, NPD Canada and the firm's interests in Latin America. The Group says it is preparing for further expansion in the US and abroad. More
UK grocery industry think tank IGD has appointed two prominent industry figures, Tesco Chairman David Reid and Alastair Sykes, Chairman & CEO of Nestlé UK, to the roles of President and Vice President respectively. More
comScore Networks has acquired online custom research provider SurveySite, Inc. Jeff Hohner, President of Toronto-based SurveySite, will be President of the newly branded comScore SurveySite. More
Catalina Marketing Corporation has announced the appointment of Edward Kuehnle, 50, as Executive VP and President of its Marketing Services division. Kuehnle joins from IRI North America where he was Group President. More
The UK's 'Tweens' and Teenagers are Europe's richest, according to new results from Datamonitor. Annual income per capita reached £775 in 2003 - more than twice as much as their Spanish counterparts. More
Increased awareness of the need for a healthier lifestyle is (after all) changing the habits of the British public. Figures from the recently published Retail Pocket Book 2005 show that over half of the population make a conscious effort to maintain or improve their general health. More
A new report from MINTEL finds Britain's kids adopting a refreshingly healthy approach towards what they eat. As many as seven in ten (71%) 11 -16 year olds agree that 'it is important to eat a balanced diet' and only one in ten 7-16 year olds find buying health foods a strange concept. More
Beyen Marktforschung GmbH is the latest addition to GfK's Retail and Technology division in Germany. The company specializes in continuous pricing research in electronic consumer goods retail, with a focus on price-related advertising and promotional activities. More
The UK business of Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has announced a strategic partnership with William Morrisons, whose EpoS data will be incorporated into IRI's leading-edge continuous UK retail scanning service, InfoScan®. Morrisons have now completed the review of MR strategy which followed the acquisition of Safeway. More
If you're planning to forget the diet for a few days, you may be interested in some facts about chocolate consumption from Datamonitor. The British are the biggest consumers of chocolate in Europe, eating on average 10kg (24 pounds) of the stuff each year - nearly twice the European average, and the equivalent of 154 Mars Bars. More
Asia is just as much in the grip of fast food culture as the US or Europe, according to the latest from AC Nielsen – in fact there are three Asian economies where a higher proportion eat take-aways than in the US. More
Despite the reputation of Britain's cities for culinary cosmopolitanism, the fish and chip shop is still the UK's favourite place to eat, closely followed by a meal down the local pub, according to the latest research from MINTEL. The total of £25bn spent on eating out this year is forecast to increase to £31bn by 2009. More
Consumer researcher mmr has relaunched, with a new positioning, a new web site and a new interactive approach. The new positioning will use the phrase 'making more of research' to emphasize mmr's research capability, creativity and approachability. More
Beta Research Corporation, a full service US agency, has announced that Founder and CEO Jerry Kossoff is moving to the role of Chairman to concentrate on strategic approaches rather than day-to-day activities, while Jason Gorelkin replaces him as CEO. More
British consumers continue to be sceptical over headlines about diet, health and nutrition. A substantial majority (61%) believe their diet is always healthy and only 11% think they are not eating healthily, according to new research by food and grocery think tank IGD. More
Discount supermarket Lidl is the one to watch in Europe, according to the latest report from food and grocery specialist IGD. Between 1996 and 2003 IGD estimates that the retailer trebled its European sales, with an average increase of 17% per annum. More
UK manufacturer Premier Foods, the home of brands such as Typhoo tea, Branston pickle and Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate, has awarded a multi-million pound, three-year contract jointly to IRI and TNS, commencing January 2005. More
Almost three quarters of UK consumers (72%) are familiar with Guideline Daily Amount labelling (GDAs) according to research by food and grocery think tank IGD. GDAs are a focus of the current, much-discussed Public Health White Paper. More
Supermarkets in the south of England are the country's worst performers in terms of customer service, says retail specialist ESA. Three of the UK's most southern regions scored lowest in a survey looking at whether staff greeted customers with a smile, stated the cost of purchases and managed to say Please, Thank You and Goodbye. More
ACNielsen has completed the first phase of its US Homescan MegaPanel initiative, expanding the panel by thirty thousand households to a total of 91,500 and launching the 'Shopper Trends' segmentation service and other new features. Nearly fifty companies have signed up as MegaPanel clients and the first results are due next month. More
TGI has announced the winners of its own 'Olympics', measuring nations' general performance in terms of health, food and sports. Japan, China and Australia take the overall medals with France and Germany also among the individual medals. More
UK-based agency The MMR Group has announced the formation of a new company specialising in Internet research. Qubiq-Online aims to combine the research expertise of the Group, including proprietary techniques such as its Liking Segmentation® tool, with online expertise to provide 'Real research online'. More
A very enjoyable Awards dinner at the Café Royal last night saw some familiar and some new faces carrying off the major gongs. Two were carried off to a noisy Nunwood table, including the 'Best Agency' Award for which they were pipped last year by Flamingo – and two went to the team of Robert Heath at the Value Creation Company and Pam Hyder from Standard Life. More
Information solutions company Experian has acquired high profile US consumer behaviour specialist Simmons Research, which runs the National Consumer Study. More
GfK Martin Hamblin has restructured of its research divisions and made a number of senior appointments. Sue Wheeler and Reza Chady join the Board, and become General Managers respectively of the B2B and Technology Departments, within the newly formed Custom Research Division. More
The 2004 edition of MINTEL's European Retail Rankings shows Tesco steadily closing the gap on Carrefour. Tesco is the clear second player in Europe (and the fourth world-wide) and its sales have risen from under two thirds of Carrefour's a couple of years ago to almost three quarters in 2003/04. More
The low-carb brands segment has grown from non-existent to $1.1 billion in under two years and a 1% share of total food / beverage sales, according to IRI's latest Times & Trends report – 'Carb-Cutting Shoppers'. An estimated 26m Americans are on a low-carb diet today and some 70m limit their carb intake informally. More
MMR Food & Drink Research has recruited Chris Marketo as a Research Director for its rapidly growing US arm. The firm is based in Oxford, UK with North American headquarters in White Plains, NY. More
ACNielsen US has launched LabelTrends(TM), a new service developed in association with Kraft Foods, that monitors sales trends in 13 of the hottest consumer packaged goods (CPG) product segments, using claims made on the labels. Segments include low-carb, low-fat, organic, and sugar-free. More
The UK Grocery Retail Market should grow by 2.7% this year to £118.1 billion, according to IGD. The growth comes despite almost static food prices, and reflects the increasing contribution of non-food groceries as well as trade-up by consumers to premium ranges. More
Ipsos-Insight has announced the launch of Ipsos DietTrends, a syndicated service to complement its established PharmTrends® brand by tracking consumer purchase behavior of diet-related products and services. More
UK agency SPA has launched a new tool designed to help retailers, brand owners and suppliers understand better how their categories are performing. 'Category Strings(TM)' quantifies eleven key drivers of consumer behaviour. More
The UK's Association for Qualitative Research (AQR) has given its 2004 Prosper Riley-Smith Effectiveness Award to Bryan Urbick, Director of Research at CKC/KidsLink Research Limited, for innovative research on the Kellogg's Froot Loop cereal brand. More
UK specialist MMR Food & Drink Research Worldwide has announced an expansion of its online capabilities. Some of the company's best-known research tools, such as Liking Segmentation® and Brand Value Equivalence®, will be integrated with the company's new online interviewing system. More
Synovate has released results from the first annual Top 1,000 Brands of Asia survey, conducted for Asian Integrated Media, the organisers of the Superbrands awards and publications. More
Internet audience measurement specialist comScore Media Metrix has released stats for site viewing by US users in June, showing a summertime concentration on travel, movies, music, sporting events and food. The company has announced a number of significant enhancements to its reporting of the Careers category. More
Lidl may be headed for the no.1 spot in the European small format discount market by 2012, according to 'European Grocery Retailing 2004', the latest report from food and grocery specialists IGD. Lidl is establishing operations in fifteen European countries in which rival Aldi has no presence. More
There are now 3.8 million Americans who tip the scales at more than 300 pounds, according to a new report by American Sports Data, Inc. (ASD). The report aims to depart from the 'polite abstraction' of Body Mass Index (BMI) and use 'measures of the flesh that are vivid, graphic and powerful enough to galvanize a dangerously overweight population'. More
With the battle for control of UK retailer Marks and Spencer raging this week, a new poll from HI Europe reveals that around three quarters of all Britons have shopped in the store in the last year. More than half have bought food, just over a third underwear and a similar proportion other clothes. More
For the fifth consecutive year, Sony is the 'best brand' among US consumers according to the annual Harris Poll. Coca Cola climbs steeply to second spot, and Toyota bursts back in at no.5 after a 2-year absence from the top ten, whilst Microsoft, Kellogg's and Pepsi Cola drop out of it, having been no.5, 9 and 10 last year, respectively. More
British children aged 7 to 14 receive a massive £1.5 billion per annum in pocket money and handouts, according to a new report from Mintel. In total Britain's 7 - 10 year olds receive almost £417 million, while the 11 - 14 year olds receive some £1.1 billion a year. More
MR veteran Rob Carpenter has joined Ipsos-Insight's products division in Chicago as a Vice President. He was previously a Vice President managing several key accounts in the Analytics Insights Group at Information Resources, Inc. (IRI). More
Both MPs and NGOs have rated Tesco as the most effective communicator from the top 50 FTSE companies in BPRI's latest report, 'Should Business Care?'. Financial services, retail, FMCG and telecommunications companies all rate highly in the lists. More
Rising gas prices have left consumers with a little less confidence in the economy, according to the June Executive Briefing from BIGresearch. Meanwhile consumers are less concerned about political and national security issues, and still relatively confident about employment. More
The barbecue season in Britain has extended beyond the traditional summer months, according to food and grocery specialist IGD, with many consumers now barbecuing between March and November. In London and the Midlands IGD found people who barbecue all year round, and overall a slight majority of Britons (51%) now barbecue at home at some time of the year. More
UK supermarket chain Iceland has developed a nationwide panel of 300 'Supermums', using the organising expertise of Brahm Research. The panel will be called upon frequently to test promotions and new product lines, in addition to helping the retailer understand its key audience. More
Research International has announced that Malcolm Baker, Global Director of Research International Qualitative, will be retiring on 31st August this year. Ivana Ventura, CEO of Research International in Italy will succeed him as Global Director of Research International Qualitatif. More
Millward Brown has this week hired Shirley Acreman and Mary Biggs to boost its team of experts with strong marketing backgrounds. Both will be based at the company's Warwick office in the UK. More
A recently released study from ACNielsen, involving 15,000 consumers across the Asia Pacific, shows that supermarkets are slowly eroding the share of the traditional wet market when consumers are out shopping for groceries. More
Delegates to last month's BIG Conference heard from a keynote speaker how RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) will change the face of retailing, and especially the data available to researchers. This week UK-based grocery think tank IGD have announced headlines from a new report entitled 'RFID - The Next Big Thing'. More
With a third of western European consumers now classified as 'overweight' and forecasts suggesting this will increase to almost half by 2006, many food and drink manufacturers now regard the development of low-carbohydrate foods as a priority, according to Reuters Business Insight. More
Independents and small chain restaurants in the US are still struggling, while the bigger chains are 'coming back to life' after the worst slump in more than a decade, according to data and commentary just released by NPD Foodworld. More
Internet audience specialist Nielsen//NetRatings has released its latest AdRelevance figures showing that traditional advertisers continued to carry the growth of online advertising through the first quarter of 2004. More
Nearly half of US consumers (43.2%) do not believe rising gas prices will have a major impact on their spending, but others are choosing to scale back on vacation plans, new clothes, and even groceries, according to a new survey by BIG Research for the National Retail Federation (NRF). More
By 2008, the UK will have 8.5 million 'Early Empty Nesters', people aged between 50 and 64 whose children have left home or who have never had children, according to the latest from Datamonitor. Their annual disposable income per capita will have increased by 8.5% to £17,872, almost 50% above the national average. More
comScore Media Metrix has announced the Top 50 US Internet Properties for the month of April 2004, based on an active online population across home, work and university PCs of 155.1 million people. The biggest gaining web property was NationalGeographic.com, with Americans keen to read up on near-earth meteors among other features. More
Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the association for grocery retailers and wholesalers, has appointed Debbie Gann as its new Director of Research. More
Germans still account for almost two fifths of European spend on coffee, according to Mintel, but the German market has declined by 39% in 5 years while spend in the rest of Europe remains fairly constant. The net effect is a decline in the European market (excluding coffee shops) from 8.5 billion Euros in 1998 to 6.8 billion Euros in 2003. More
Brits are Europe's biggest snackers, according to the latest from Datamonitor. By 2008, snacking will account for 44% of all 'eating occasions', and UK consumers will spend a total of £10.3bn on snacks, 20% more than the 2003 figure of £8.5bn. More
British consumers' increasing concern about healthy diet and lifestyle is bringing continued growth for the 'functional food and drinks' market, according to the latest from Mintel. More
The convenience retail sector in the UK is growing rapidly - by 7.3% in the last year - according to Convenience Retailing 2004, the latest report from grocery think tank IGD. The sector is now worth £23bn and could exceed the £30bn mark by 2008. Convenience retail now accounts for 20p in every £1 of grocery spending. More
Backbench MPs and leading UK Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) believe that the UK's parents should take responsibility for changing habits leading to obesity, according to researchers BPRI, part of Kantar. However, they also feel that many other groups have a role to play. More
Responding to widespread changes in consumer shopping patterns, ACNielsen US this week announced a comprehensive retail measurement solution that offers significantly enhanced coverage of the complex US consumer packaged goods (CPG) marketplace. More
Despite all the low-carb diets and foods, The NPD Group's new Report on Carbohydrate Consumption Patterns finds Americans still consuming plenty of them. Even among people who say they are on low-carb diets, only one out of four is actually significantly cutting carbs. More
Familiarity with store layout, already the most important factor in choosing a grocery store, is becoming still more important to the UK's shoppers according to IGD. However, improvements in shopping experiences over the last year are mainly put down to price factors. More
A second look at the Mintel British Lifestyles survey, showing ten year trends in spending / activity in the areas of housing and pensions, telephone and internet banking, food and health, travel and clothing. More
Sony and Heinz are still the two best known brands in the UK, each mentioned by 19% of respondents to the latest Brand*Check survey by Martin Hamblin GfK. More
Two-thirds of the UK's grocery suppliers (68%) are devoting more resources to the wholesale sector this year than last year, according to survey results in Grocery Wholesaling 2004, a report by grocery industry think tank IGD. The value of the sector is forecast to grow to £17.6bn by the end of 2007. More
Food, beverage and tobacco firms are among the poorest in responding to customer queries via their web sites, a key element of the online customer experience, according to the Customer Respect Group's Winter 2004 Study. The study examines the sites of sixty-four firms in the sector that rank among the USA's largest 1000 companies. More
After the weakest year in more than a decade, the US restaurant sector shows signs of recovery, led by major fast food chains, according to The NPD Group. More
Around two thirds of kids in the US and key western European markets think they are 'healthy', and only one in fourteen think they are not healthy according to recent research by TNS OK (Online Kids). More
Bigger depots and reductions in stock levels are two of the trends discussed in IGD's Retail Logistics 2004 Report, which looks at the supply chain activities of the UK's grocery retailers. The survey found that Tesco and Asda between them now account for almost half the five billion cases passing through distribution sites each year. More
... a familiar cry to those pub-goers who are slow volunteering to buy their round – but it may have some substance, according to specialist drinks researchers RHMR, who found that the UK's brand owners and retailers almost certainly lost sales and profit as a result of stock shortages on the shelves of multiple grocers at Christmas. More
American retailers will soon be able to extend the sales information and category performance monitoring used in center store categories to their fresh foods / perishable goods counters, following a recent announcement by independent consultants The Perishables Group and ACNielsen US. More
Gourmet food is flourishing across Europe, according to the latest report from Datamonitor. France is Europe's largest gourmet food market in terms of overall spend. The UK is second, but first in terms of spend per capita, with British consumers spending over £900 per year each on fine foods. More
Two years after the publication of the Curry Commission Report on the Future of Farming and Food, a survey by food and grocery think tank IGD finds consumers very patriotic about Britain as a farming nation, but farmers themselves mostly unaware of any effect the report has had. More
After 18 months of restructuring and talent search in Australia, Millward Brown's Asia Pacific CEO Andreas Sperling has announced the completion of its new line-up, highlighting four recent senior appointments. According to Sperling, the restructure answers clients' requests for a 'mould-breaking' agency. More
Impulse or spur-of-the-moment CPG purchases are influenced chiefly by discounted prices and trusted brand names, according to a US survey conducted by Knowledge Networks in association with Advertising Age. Relatively few claim to be influenced by in-store TV advertising and scarcely anyone by celebrity endorsement. More
Last Sunday's Super Bowl XXXVIII, complete with an array of unscheduled sideshows, produced the usual crop of impactful ads and big increases in Web site traffic for related companies and products, according to two sets of results from comScore and The Claria Corporation. More
More than a quarter of British adults (28%) are trying to lose weight 'most of the time' according to a new report from MINTEL, 'Attitudes Towards Healthy Eating in the UK'. Even among men, almost one in five (18%) are doing so, whilst among women the figure is 37%. More
Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has appointed Scott W. Klein as its new President & CEO. Klein joins from Electronic Data Systems Corporation where he was President of the Consumer Industries & Retail business. More
Global agency Synovate has today announced the acquisition of The Research Business International (TRBI), one of the UK's leading research firms, from a US-based group headed by Maritz Inc. More
A new survey by consumer intelligence firm BIGresearch provides a steer on consumer attitudes to American beef in the light of recent scares. Nearly 70 percent believe the country's beef supply is safe. More
Millward Brown continues to strengthen its senior team for Mainland Europe with the appointment of Pierre Gomy as Research & Development Director. Also this month Krzysztof Kruszewski, MD of the company's Polish subsidiary has picked up two awards. More
It might seem like you've been back at work forever, but 2004 is still fairly new. Today DRNO takes a quick look at some recent predictions made by Datamonitor, for the coming year and the two or three after it, about the way the British work, eat, drink and socialise. More
The year 2003 was a good one for global and international retailers, according to new research from the grocery industry think-tank IGD. Nine of the top ten groups improved their ratings in its Global Retail League, which is designed to look beyond mere turnover to underlying global capability and strength. More
Sony, already voted the best brand by British and American respondents earlier in the year, is also no.1 in Italy, according to research by HI Europe. Sony is the only brand to feature in all three top tens. More
Two senior level researchers have been added to the growing staff at Target Research Group. David Buchler, thirty years an agency researcher and with particular experience in foods and media, joins as a Senior Vice President while legal research expert Larry Herman joins as Vice President. More
Opinion Research Corporation has announced a strategic alliance with Boston-based MarketBasics, which will operate as its regional office in the New England area. More
Justin Edge, former Vice President, Director of US Brand Practice at Opinion Research Corporation (ORC), has joined Knowledge Networks as Managing Director/Senior Vice President. More
The latest consumer research from the Institute of Grocery Distribution in the UK finds that consumers expect to see instant changes if Safeway is acquired and these will include lower prices, more special offers, better customer service and food quality, and the introduction of more own label foods. More
Xtreme Information and YouGov have recently launched Impact Check, a new rapid turnaround, quantified research service for organisations with PR issues. More
The recovery of the U.S. economy is being driven by accelerating output from American firms according to the latest data from Decision Analyst's November U.S. Economic Index. The overall Index pushed up to 111 in November, the highest level reached in the last 12 months. Measured business activity was up strongly, reaching a monthly level matched only once in the last two years (in March 2002). More
Information Resources, Inc has launched a new analytic service called Mix Drivers/Portfolio. Designed for CPG manufacturers who market multiple competing brands within the same product category, the service reveals opportunities to increase profits by re-allocating marketing spending across entire brand portfolios. More
The latest quarterly results from the British Market Research Association (BMRA) in the UK suggest that the market research industry is showing signs of modest but real growth after a flat year in 2002. More
A major survey, involving 110 of Europe's largest companies, has revealed the Top Companies for Leaders in Europe. The study, which was carried out by global HR outsourcing and consulting firm Hewitt Associates, identifies the leadership practices that differentiate the most effective organisations for developing talent and which can be linked to financial success. More
More pre-Christmas retail cheer – this time for shopping Web sites, which have increased their share of all UK Internet user visits from 5.85% in October 2002 to 8.66% a year later, according to the Hitwise Online Retail Report 2003. The figure should rise to more than 10% in December. More
On Tuesday DRNO looked at the Indian obsession with cricket and with batting genius Sachin Tendulkar in particular. Today we look at the Synovate / Blackstone Market Facts survey's other findings, which concern Indians' views of other sports, their membership of fitness clubs and use of exercise regimes, and the effect of brand endorsement by cricketers and film stars. More
Retail giant Wal-Mart is turning its attention to the increasing opportunity presented by the '63% of world GDP beyond the US', and will derive $30bn worth of sales from its European operations by 2007, according to new research by food and grocery specialists IGD. More
Use of self check-out lanes in US stores is fairly widespread - 61% of US households have used them already, accordingly to research published by ACNielsen US. However, there are mixed feelings among those who have tried them and a hard core of people not planning to do so. More
Pete Farrand, a former European marketing director at Nestlé, has been appointed Senior Research Associate in the new product and business development team at FDS International. More
NetRatings and ACNielsen US have announced the launch of Homescan® Online, a new service designed to improve the effectiveness of online marketing for consumer packaged goods (CPG) marketers and Web publishers. More
The organic food and drink market in the UK is forecast to grow by around 75% between 2002 and 2007, according to a new report from Datamonitor. The UK is second in Europe in its spend on organic foods, but far behind Germany, with high prices remaining the strongest barrier to acceptance. More
An apocryphal tale told by Internet sceptics sometime late in the last century held that UK catalogue retailer Argos, in its first year online, sold only eleven items. Now the Argos Web site has been ranked Number One in Europe in a study by Forrester Research, which more generally gives catalogue retailers credit for leading the way online. More
People who 'shake their magazines over the bin' are not, after all, riding the wave of the future. According to research commissioned by marketing and advertising solutions provider Vertis, advertising inserts are now the single most popular and influential form of media in consumers' buying decisions. More
Older consumers (aged 55 plus) will account for more than half of all UK spend on food, drink and household products by 2006 - £53bn of a predicted £104.4bn market - according to a new report from Reuters Business Insight and TNS. More
Online competitive intelligence provider Hitwise has announced the most visited UK retail sites from Quarter 3 2003 (July / August / September). Both Empire Direct and The Gadget Shop have enjoyed rapid rises to no.1 in their categories, while Asda has overtaken sainsburystoyou to reach no.2 spot in the Grocery & Alcohol category. More
Yorkshire-based agency Nunwood Consulting continues to grow, this week announcing the appointment of two new researchers, Melanie Stirrup from Millward Brown as Senior Project Manager and Jenny Evans as Research Executive. More
Ipsos-Insight has announced a new consumer panel tracking tool in the US, called the On-the-Go Purchase Panel. The panel captures unplanned and incidental purchases across alternative sales channels for beverage, snack, gum, snack bar and candy manufacturers, according to Ipsos filling a gap left by over-concentration on traditional channels. More
ACNielsen US has announced plans to greatly extend the coverage of its Convenience Track retail measurement service, boosting the sample used for sales projections to over 2,500 convenience stores across the US and in 30 local markets. More
The war on obesity continues to fascinate the US press and attract column inches on a scale comparable to the war on terrorism. Three recent studies / surveys, of which DRNO presents a digest (sic) this morning, highlight the nature of the problem, the response, and some possible opportunities. More
September was the busiest month of 2003 so far for Internet shopping sites, according to online measurement company Hitwise. The retail sector accounted for 8.06% of all online traffic during September - a 44% increase in market share compared with the same period last year. More
European online research specialist SKOPOS has announced that it has finalised a merger agreement with fellow online insight company MDS. The new company will retain the name SKOPOS, and will boast a broader range of specialist market sectors. More
Ipsos-Insight, the Ipsos Group's main MR division in the US, has launched a new, cutting-edge package-testing product called 'Pack Evolution' that enables manufacturers to take advantage of the speed, efficiency and technology of the Internet to test package designs using digital shelf displays. More
Around 2.7m British mums will buy an estimated 35m licensed character products this year for their toddlers, with the Tweenies and Bob the Builder taking the top slots. The findings, from child & youth research specialists Carrick James Market Research, show that eight in ten mums of pre-school children have bought at least one such product in the last 3 months. More
Millward Brown has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with French market modelling agency Interstat to use its SAPIENS® market mix model, which offers sales volume forecasting across both packaged goods and BtoB product categories. More
Despite all the high profile press coverage of legal action against food companies, most Americans with weight problems / children with weight problems accept responsibility themselves, according to an online study conducted by Research International and Lightspeed Research. Whilst holding up their hands, however, they're often grabbing another burger. More
MapPoint 2004, the newest version of Microsoft Corp's business mapping and location-based data visualization software, will include US consumer profile data from Simmons Market Research Bureau, enabling users to view data down to the level of products and zip codes. More
Many Americans have given up on eating desserts at home, according to the NPD Group's upcoming 18th Annual Report on Eating Patterns in America. The percentage of in-home dinner meals that include dessert has declined from 21 in 1990 to only 15 in 2003. More
The total value of the worldwide MR market remained flat in 2002 according to ESOMAR's latest global market research study. The 2002 figure of US$16.6bn (Euro 17.6bn) is up in dollar terms but down in Euros due to exchange rate movements. The USA and the EU each accounted for 38% of the total world market in 2002. More
Sales of private label goods, defined as any Consumer Packaged Goods brand that is sold exclusively by a specific retailer or chain, are growing relative to manufacturer brands according to recent research by ACNielsen. More than 95% of Private Label sales are found in Europe and North America but growth is fastest in other regions. More
Information systems provider Geoscape International, Inc. has introduced a new version of its Marketscape dataset which claims to improve on census information about population groups, in particular recent immigrants. More
Eating habits in Europe and the US seem to be following some familiar patterns despite rumours of change. Italians are still the most likely to eat with the family, Britain is second to the US in takeaway consumption and very few people in the former eastern bloc countries eat out, according to Ipsos' global reporting service World Monitor. More
The last few days have seen the announcement of a number of new segmentation products and services by US companies. Three of them, from FGI Research, Burke and Claritas, are detailed here for readers of DRNO. More
It doesn't seem long since DRNO announced the first influx of senior staff to new agency Qureshi Marketing & Research ( in fact it's 5 months - see http://www.mrweb.com/drno/news2298.htm ) but already the high-profile agency has been acquired, by MASMI Research Group. More
Taylor Nelson Sofres plc (TNS) have announced positive interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2003, with steady growth in the market for syndicated and continuous tracking services, but continued pressure in media intelligence and ad hoc customised research. More
Millward Brown has appointed research agency MRB Hellas as its licensee in Greece. Established in 1969, MRB Hellas works across a broad range of clients including packaged goods, leisure, IT, telecoms, media, and government bodies, both Greek and European. More
The US advertising market grew strongly in the first half of 2003, according to data from TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. The total of $61.6 billion in ad expenditures for the 6 months represent an increase of 6.8 percent as compared to the first half of 2002. Fifteen out of sixteen measured media experienced growth with Network TV the only exception. More
UK-based consultancies Citigate DVL Smith and Hauck Research Services, both owned by the Incepta Group Plc, are to be merged to form Incepta Marketing Intelligence. The various businesses and company brands within the group will continue to be run separately, reporting to the new Board, of which David Smith will be Chairman and Liz Hauck Deputy Chairman. More
'New Luxury' companies, with high-quality premium-price products targeted to middle-market consumers, are posting growth rates well above that of the overall US economy, according to new research from management consulting firm The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The 15 New Luxury companies studied averaged 18% sales gains in the first half of 2003. More
The US computer industry continues to enjoy the best image of any of the countries business sectors, although most segments have seen an improvement in the last year, according to Gallup. The restaurant and grocery sector is second, while accounting, suffering last year from scandals and failures, has jumped back 14 points. More
US strategic consultancy Cheskin has announced the retirement of principal Betty Ann Korzenny and a change of role for co-founder Felipe Korzenny, who is the newly appointed Professor of Communication at Florida State University but will continue as a consultant to the company. More
Information Resources, Inc. has expanded its industry-leading Mix Drivers(TM) marketing mix modeling service to include a Consumer Segment Insights module, Mix Drivers/CSI(TM). More
Advertising spending for the first half of 2003 rose 2.8% versus first half 2002, according to preliminary figures released last week by Nielsen Monitor-Plus, the advertising information service of Nielsen Media Research. The fastest growth was in Hispanic TV (19%), National Magazines (c.14%) and Local Newspapers (c.10%). More
MrWeb has today launched the first four of its new 'Sector Focus' pages. Each page brings together the site's news, desk research links (UK-based) and listings of suppliers for researchers working in a particular vertical sector. More
Nearly two thirds of consumers believe that certain foods can reduce the risk of developing some ailments and conditions, according to new research from food and groceries specialists IGD into 'functional foods' - but only one third have bought such a food and less than a quarter buy them regularly, indicating enormous untapped market potential. More
CPG and healthcare insight specialist Information Resources, Inc. has announced the launch of Ethnic Workbench(TM), a new service which enables CPG marketers to analyze retail sales trends in Hispanic and African-American markets, compare them against the overall US average to identify opportunity gaps and measure the impact of ethnic-targeted marketing. More
NOP World has appointed Jim Follett as Chief Operating Officer. Follett joins from Information Resources, Inc where he spent 15 years in various senior roles, most recently President, US Client Services and Consulting. More
Orders for salads at US restaurants, including side and main dish salads, decreased between June 2002 and May 2003 according to research from the NPD Group whose 'Annual Eating Patterns in America' will be published in October. However, main dish salads are enjoying a renaissance in a seemingly unlikely quarter, fast food restaurants. More
ESOMAR will be hosting its 56th annual congress on September 14-17 in Prague. This is the first time that the congress will be taking place in a former soviet bloc country. About 1200 delegates will attend, from over 70 countries. More
For the fourth year running Americans have voted Sony number one in the annual Harris Poll of 'best brands'. Kraft moves up from fourth to second place this year while Dell slips from second to third place. General Motors jumps from tenth to fourth place. Microsoft, Kellogg's and Procter & Gamble are new to the list. More
Unilever will again be presenting its award for consumer research in the food industry at this year's IGD Food Industry Awards in London on 14th October. The award is presented to a company that has translated new consumer insight to develop an innovative initiative with quantifiable business benefits. The deadline for entries has been extended to August 1st. More
ACNielsen and Yahoo! have teamed up to launch Yahoo! Consumer Direct, Powered by ACNielsen, a new service that enables consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to reach consumers more effectively online and directly measure the offline sales impact of their efforts. More
The British Market Research Association (BMRA) has released figures from its annual survey of the industry showing growth and decline in revenues for specific sectors. More
Consumers in most countries feel closer to their own culture than they did a few years ago, and more distant from American culture, according to the recent Roper Reports 2003 Worldwide study. Some of the likely causes are short-term and results vary with region, but generally consumers are more likely to be thinking as well as acting local. More
UK market research salaries have remained fairly flat in the past 12 months, according to the first statistics from MrWeb vacancies for Jan to June '03. Full details will be in this month's MRWho. The number of jobs posted (and specifying salaries) has risen by 27% in the last 6 months. More
Web site competitive intelligence provider Hitwise has published lists of top performing UK sites for the year June 2002 - June 2003. The stats are arranged by sector and are interesting both from the point of view of individual battles and the whole dotcom vs High Street saga. More
Market information company The NPD Group has announced the appointment of Tim Bowles as a consultant and member of the firm's Executive Committee. Tim is a renowned innovator in the international market research arena who has held CEO, MD and equivalent positions in UK and US companies including Information Resources Inc., MRB Group, AGB and RSGB. More
Taylor Nelson Sofres plc has announced the completion of its acquisition of NFO WorldGroup, Inc. (NFO), from The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (Interpublic). The acquisition, which was announced on 14 May 2003, consolidates TNS' position as one of the top three global companies in its industry. More
Prices charged by UK research agencies will be investigated over the next few weeks by UK Consultancy RHMR - this is the 6th year in succession that the price check has been carried out. Between 1998 and 2002 the average quotation received from participating agencies has risen by only around 10-15%, reflecting very competitive conditions in the industry. More
ESOMAR has been pressing ahead with its 'Quo Vadis project' to promote the convergence of worldwide MR standards, despite recent setbacks in the creation of a Federation of Research Associations. More
In what will undoubtedly be the MR Event of the Year, BMRA Chairman Peter Jackling and fieldwork guru Jill Lonsdale completed their planned merger in a ceremony in Chalfont St Peter in June. More
US CPG research giant Information Resources Inc. has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a newly formed corporation owned by Symphony Technology II-A, L.P. and Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC. IRI's Board of Directors has unanimously approved the acquisition. More
Retailers could lose 43% of intended purchases when products are out of stock, whilst manufacturers could lose 25%, according to global food and groceries specialist IGD. The finding is published in 'Shopper Insight', a new quarterly report series that looks at developments in the food retail environment through the eyes of shoppers. More
The ICG, the UK association for independent consultants and MR firms with 3 or fewer people, is holding its AGM & Summer Party on Wednesday 2nd July in Browns Bar, 82 St. Martins Lane, London WC2. The Group welcomes Dr Rachel Lawes, an expert in semiotics, ethnomethodology and narrative analysis, to speak on 'what modern art reveals about modern consumer culture'. More
A typical survey will cost over a third more to conduct in the USA or Japan than it does in the UK, France or Germany, according to new research from ESOMAR, the World Association of Research Professionals. The 2003 Research Prices Study invited 407 member companies worldwide to quote for six different types of project. More
Keith C. Stevens has joined Target Research Group Inc., Nanuet, NY as Vice President of Client Services. More
The MrWeb site, combining news, jobs, directories, diary and link libraries for market researchers, enjoyed a busiest-ever month in May with record numbers of jobs posted, pages viewed, recruiters advertising and subscribers signed up. On three occasions in the past four weeks, more than 10,000 site pages have been viewed in one day. More
Research consultancy ORC International has appointed Louise Vacher as Divisional Manager of its London-based Consumer, Trade & Retail division. Louise has fifteen years' experience within the research industry, mostly on the agency side, but also including client-side experience at Nestlé UK. More
In the face of fierce competition from value retailers, drugstores need to get customers to buy more at the front-end [as opposed to the pharmacy] on each visit, according to a paper at the 2003 NACDS Marketplace Conference in San Diego this week, supported by research from Information Resources Inc. More
The Board of MORI, the UK's largest independent MR agency, is entering discussions with a number of potential buyers. The company was the subject of an MBO 3-4 years ago and the decision to invite bids is reportedly in line with the original plan under the venture capital model. A price tag of £100m has been mentioned by the FT, but has not, according to MORI, come from anyone within the company. More
Results are in from MRWho's June poll of over 200 UK research professionals, and the shock news is that only thirty per cent think that MR is 'Not Very Well Paid'. We had certainly feared worse, and the 1% who think it is 'Very Badly Paid' are a drop in the ocean. Hours worked are also less off-putting than they might have been, with a mean of only 43 a week. Nevertheless, many researchers dream of dropping out and 'doing some good for society'. More
The much-reported rise in obesity in the UK is being mirrored by a rapid expansion of health and fitness club membership, according to the latest research from Mintel. Private health and fitness clubs in the UK have an estimated 3.8 million members, more than double the figure for ten years ago but more significantly over a million up on last year. More
For those conference enthusiasts out there already planning next year's schedule of events, The Market Research Society in the UK has released the first details on its annual conference for 2004 entitled 'Welcome to the Dream Economy'. The conference, for the first time in its history, is to be held in central London. More
Synovate has released survey results showing the impact of SARS on the behaviors and attitudes of Taiwanese consumers. More
Employees' trust in upward communication has risen dramatically in the past decade, according to MORI's latest research in the UK, presented at the Communicators in Business conference in May. The survey pinpoints the most and least trusted information channels, enabling internal communicators to fine-tune their communications strategies. More
In the last two months, despite the recent resurgence of the disease in Toronto, Canadians' personal fears over SARS have declined, according to a new Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll released last week. They are also less worried than they were about BSE, despite one recent case. More
Last week, a U.S. District Court judge set a trial date of September 20, 2004 in Information Resources, Inc.'s antitrust lawsuit against ACNielsen (now owned by VNU), The Dun & Bradstreet Corp., and IMS International, in which IRI is seeking damages in excess of $1 billion after trebling. The jury trial in this case is scheduled to last between ten and sixteen weeks. More
Leaders of market research associations from the Americas, Europe and Asia have decided to join efforts initiated by industry leaders during the RELEAS process aimed at strengthening the market research industry. More
Information Resources, in conjunction with Marketing Analytics, has announced the launch of Drivers on Demand, a new web-based business intelligence application that provides consumer packaged goods sales and marketing managers with automated, model-driven analysis of retail sales drivers. More
SPSS has this week announced the launch of Predictive Web Analytics, a solution allowing companies to transform their web data into deeper customer intelligence. Unlike traditional web metrics, Predictive Web Analytics aims to provides meaningful historical and predictive insights, so maximising customer value and increasing returns from web investments. More
ORC International will be hosting its eight annual employee research conference in London on 3 June for client-side HR personnel. The event will enable participants from a wide range of organisations to share best practice for conducting employee research, and provide the opportunity to discuss how employee research can be used to address the challenges facing HR professionals. More
CASRO's 8th Annual Technology Conference is a forum that will identify and address the latest issues in technology for research to be held in New York on 19 and 20 June. More
Latest research from Mintel studying savoury snacks consumption across the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy highlights the UK has having the largest snacks market in Europe. More
Last week the US District Court for the Southern District of New York issued two key rulings for Information Resources, Inc. in its $350 million-plus antitrust lawsuit against Dun & Bradstreet, ACNielsen and IMS International. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) and the Association for Survey Computing (ASC) in the UK have announced a new award, the MRS/ASC Joint Award for Technology Effectiveness. More
The majority of UK consumers (63%) expect that 'local food' comes either from their county or is produced within 30 miles of where they live or buy it, according to new research from IGD, Consumer Watch: Local & British Foods. More
TNS has announced the acquisition of the National Drinks Survey (NDS) one of the UK's foremost studies into consumer drinking habits. NDS is purchased by major blue chip drinks manufacturers who use it to gain insight into the hot and cold drink markets, to identify marketing and product development opportunities. More
Europinion (part of the Virtual Surveys group) is running a free seminar on the subject of online research on 17th June in central London. The seminar will aim to provide a thorough understanding of the issues and best approaches for conducting conventional research online. It will also provide an update on the latest trends in the area of website research. More
US agency Information Resources Inc has reported results for the first quarter of 2003, ending March 31, showing net income of US$260,000 compared to a net loss of US$9.4 million in the year earlier period. More
Early booking for the ASC (Association for Survey Computing) International Conference entitled 'The Impact of Technology on the Survey Process' closes next week on the 30 April. The conference itself takes place in September at Warwick University. More
Media Guardian and NOP Research UK have formed a long-term partnership to develop a unique resource for the whole media industry, the first findings of which are released this week. More
Figures released this week by the British Market Research Association indicate that expenditure on market research in the UK grew by 2.6% in 2002, to a value of £1.18 billion. More
According to preliminary figures from the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Internet advertising in the USA for full-year 2002 totalled $5.95 billion. These top-line results are based on compiling data from the top 15 online ad sellers, which historically account for over 80% of total industry revenues. The results of this revenue compilation are then extrapolated to calculate the total industry revenue figure. More
Recent food & drink highlights from Mintel's GNPD service (Global New Products Database) include melon flavoured instant cappuccino and mini Nutri-Grain snack bars. More
Ipsos-RSL has this week announced that Europe 2003, the fourth survey in the successful Europe 2000 series, will be launched on 3 July 2003 in London. The survey has established itself as the main currency for trading pan-European print and television campaigns and is an essential tool for advertisers, planners, buyers and media companies worldwide. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) and Pearson Education in the UK have this week launched two books which broaden the learning resources available for prospective and new entrants to the market research profession, and for marketing professionals seeking to extend their skills in market research. More
As America's 78 million baby boomers become increasingly unsettled about looking and feeling old there is an opportunity for marketers to take advantage of a new anti-ageing market, according to a recently published research brief available from FIND/SVP. More
Users of market research (clients) are focused on increasing the profitability of research. The changing business environment dictates the introduction of innovative business solutions and models from the research provider side. ESOMAR'S second event on 'Managing research for profit' will take place from 18-20 May in Brussels in the quest to identify critical success factors in the client-provider relationship and to continue the dialogue. More
RedSheriff has this week unveiled its new market intelligence capabilities and the results of a demographic survey of more than 60,000 New Zealand Internet users. In Auckland, RedSheriff's Chief Executive Officer, Richard Webb, commented on the progress the New Zealand Internet industry had achieved since the company's unique web measurement methodology was established as the standard by the Online Publisher's Group six months ago. More
Information Resources, Inc. in the US has announced a new strategic agreement with Management Ventures, Inc. (MVI), the largest retail research organisation in the world. Under the agreement, IRI will become the exclusive supplier of syndicated retail tracking and consumer household panel-based information for MVI and its U.S. customers. More
Today's global consumers connect with brand franchises that symbolize trust, offer a specific expertise and group products logically, according to a study released this week by ACNielsen. More
When eating out, consumers' priorities are the taste of the food and knowledge of its ingredients. However they will sacrifice taste for products that are easier to prepare when shopping for food. Although on the whole, consumers make decisions in the same way when eating out and when buying food in a supermarket, their expectations of taste are higher when eating out according to IGD's Consumer Tracker in the UK, part of the Consumer Watch series. More
E-Tabs has announced its partnership with Insight Marketing Systems (Melbourne, Australia) to market and distribute Research Reporter - market research management and library software - to research buyers in UK and Europe. E-Tabs will be premiering Research Reporter at Esomar's Excellence in Consumer Insights conference in Madrid (30 March - 1 April). More
Retailers and prescription drug and consumer healthcare products manufacturers must evolve their traditional approaches to marketing and begin seeking new ways of understanding the total wellness needs of the individual -- from a consumer, patient, and customer perspective -- according to Ed Kuehnle, North America Group President of Information Resources, speaking at the recent Consumer Healthcare Product Association's (CHPA) annual conference. More
The Market Research Society's (MRS) Census and Geodemographics Group is to host a new seminar to encourage market and social researchers to make better use of the wide array of alternative data sources now available. The 'Using External Data in Market Research Seminar' will take place on 31 March in London. More
A first 'World Industry Network (WIN)' meeting is to be held on 22-23 May 2003 in Brussels. More
Business in the Community in the UK has recently published the first Corporate Responsibility Index. This is the first business-led, voluntary, Index, publicly benchmarking the responsible business practice of companies in a range of different industry sectors - no company was excluded because of the nature of its core business. More
On-going collaboration between Techneos Systems and SPSS MR has produced an improved solution for mobile collection of structured data. Techneos, the mobile data collection specialist, has just released a new version of its Entryware Professional software that is integrated with the SPSS MR Dimensions Platform. More
SPSS has recently released PredictiveMarketing, an automated predictive analytics application that helps marketers improve customer targeting and increase response rates. More
Confidence among senior marketers in the UK has hit rock bottom, in sharp contrast with the position just three months ago, according to the latest figures from The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). More
New research from Millward Brown reveals that two in three global tweens (children ages 9-14) influence big ticket family purchases like cars, the fashion brands their parents wear, and mobile phones. And a further one in seven has an opinion about what brands their parents should buy, but doesn't express it. More
Consumers in the US are continuing to scale back their trips to the grocery store, opting instead for 'supercenters', dollar stores, and warehouse club stores, according to the latest 'Channel Blurring' study from ACNielsen U.S. More
In the second of our features looking at what's on show at this week's Market Research Society conference in Birmingham, MrWeb previews a paper by Keith Dugmore from Demographic Decisions on the 'New Free Data for Researching the UK's Population from the 2001 Census'. More
Latest research from Mintel highlights rapid growth of some 165% in the food intolerance and allergies market since 2000. Valued at £55.6 million in 2002, there have been a number of key factors driving this sector, including the growing number of consumers who perceive that they have a food allergy/intolerance. More
Prior to the annual MRS Conference next week, this year to be held in Birmingham, MrWeb previews some of the papers to be given at the event. Firstly, we look at a paper entitled 'Oh no, the consultants are coming!'(presented by Sid Simmons from Incite Marketing Planning and Angela Lovejoy from McKinsey) which looks how the research industry can learn from the consulting sector and whether the traditional apprehensions about management consultancy by researchers are truly justified. More
Information Resources Inc has announced the promotions of Neil Canter to Division President, Analytic Insights Group, and David Shanker to Division President, Client Service North America. More
Companies of any size can develop a brand to sustain business performance during tough times, according to Laurie Young, a Trustee of The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) in the UK and marketing partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. More
Businesses in the UK seeking a better understanding of the opportunities and pitfalls of the online world have been given access to a new platform for advice and knowledge sharing, thanks to a new partnership between NOP and e-consultancy. More
Under the umbrella of Itracks' Partners in Research programme, Square One Research, a full service market research firm specialising in technology products and services, has announced a strategic partnership agreement with Itracks, to focus on website usability testing. More
The NPD Group has reached a strategic partnership with Parkod Europe to provide beauty retailers and manufacturers with access to new levels of market information. France is the first step in the partners' European rollout of selective beauty POS tracking. Discussions are underway to expand the partnership's beauty industry market tracking to include Italy, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. More
'Reality Research', organised by research agency SKOPOS and the Market Research Society in the UK, is gearing up for action this Friday, 7th March. The event will turn the tables on market researchers and offer the public a chance to put them under surveillance, 'Big Brother' style. More
Henley Centre Chairman Martin Hayward predicts a distinct change in consumer attitudes during 2003, towards taking a long term view and away from the 'sod the consequences' thinking of the past few years. More
According to findings from the newly released IRI study, What Do Americans Really Eat? ready-to-eat snack products with strong convenience benefits are fulfilling the demand for snacks and meal replacements for on-the-go consumers. More
According to the annual survey by Japanese advertising agency Dentsu, the sector hit hard times in 2002 with adspend falling for the year. This was despite a temporary boost in the first half from the Winter Olympics and the World Cup. More
The Interactive Advertising Bureau(IAB) has recently released new research results from the latest of its Cross Media Optimization Studies (XMOS) based on advertising campaigns from Kimberly-Clark's Kleenex Soft Pack tissues and Colgate-Palmolive's Colgate Total toothpaste. More
Global information group Reuters has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire financial information provider Multex for $7.35 (GBP 4.56) per share in cash. More
Asians are consuming more milk and other dairy products than ever before, according to findings from Taylor Nelson Sofres' (TNS) Asiapanel - Asia's first pan regional continuous consumer panel, which reveals growth in the dairy sector is strongest in China and Taiwan. More
Global brand design agency Enterprise IG has set up a new specialist practice area to advise organisations on internal brand engagement. Three WPP Group companies, Enterprise IG, MCA Communicates and Added Value Internal Communication , are joining together to launch 'Babe'. More
Latest research from Mintel studying ready meals consumption across the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy highlights the UK as having the largest ready meals market in Europe. More
Household cleaner manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser is this year standardising its global research methodology for brand tracking, when it commences a programme for its household brands of face-to-face interviews with UK consumers for the first time. More
Even with the wide variety of foods available in supermarkets and on restaurant menus, many British meals still include chips. According to latest research by Taylor Nelson Sofres, fish and chips is still one of the nation's most popular meal choices, with 541 million meals consumed in the home, in restaurants or as a takeaway, in 2002. More
MrWeb, the publisher of Daily Research News and MRWho, has appointed Michael Kenyon to the new post of Director, US Operations. The move follows a successful year in which the company has consolidated its no.1 position in the UK research job ads market and broadened out into new areas. More
Aravati Global Search Network, a leading international executive search organization, recently held its biannual partner meeting in New York. Representatives from the Americas and Europe met to discuss future developments in international executive recruitment and to meet with client CEOs to hear what their growth expectations for 2003 are. More
ESOMAR has this week announced that the organisation is to join UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme). Within its role of improving decision making in business and society worldwide, ESOMAR wants to promote research-based 'responsible marketing'. More
Latest research from Mintel questioning 993 adults finds strong preferences among consumers towards buying British and locally grown produce. More
The British Market Research Association (BMRA) is teaming up with the Market Research Society (MRS) and Marketing Week to create the first awards to cover the market research industry in a single event - The Market Research Effectiveness and Excellence Awards. More
On the other side of the Atlantic, Valentine's Day week generates more candy sales than any other holiday week, according to ACNielsen U.S. A review of one-week total candy sales in the combined grocery, drug, and mass merchandise channels (excluding Wal-Mart) shows Valentine's Day week topping all others in 2002. More
US agency Information Resources Inc has reported its financial results for the year ending December 31 2002 showing a net loss of $13 million and revenues decreasing for the year. More
A recent study conducted amongst 200 schoolchildren in the UK by Vox Pops International reveals some interesting insight into eating patterns and attitudes towards food. More
Latest research from Mintel for the British Lifestyles 2003 survey questioning 2,005 adults paints a picture of a surprisingly balanced British consumer, with around 50% of adults enjoying a good balance between work and life. More
At the Technovate conference hosted by ESOMAR this week, NOP World, MORI, NFO Europe and SPSS MR have announced the creation of ECOR (European Consortium for Online Research) to shape the future of online research in Europe. More
Information Resources, Inc has this week announced the immediate availability of its new InfoScan Convenience Store National service. The new service provides scanner-based sales data and causal (promotional) information at the national and regional levels. More
Jupiter Research has recently announced the launch of two new services to its product portfolio, the Web Site Review service and dedicated research analyst Weblogs. More
Market research would benefit if it were more business-focused, according to the newly elected Chairman of the British Market Research Association (BMRA), Peter Jackling. More
The noticeable transition of the in-house research function from passive to pivotal was the major topic of discussion at a recent one-day client forum hosted by Nunwood Consulting in the UK. More
The Q4 2002 Bellwether Report, the quarterly survey of marketing budgets in the UK, published this week by NTC Research on behalf of the IPA, shows marketing budgets were revised down in Q4 2002 for the second consecutive quarter. However the extent of the downward revision was less than seen in the same period a year ago. More
Information Resources, Inc has recently announced a new management team for its international operations, which comprise approximately a quarter of IRI's total revenue. More
The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) in the UK has appointed a new chief executive, Peter Fisk, as the organisation looks to increase its presence within the international marketing arena. More
The lineup of keynote speakers for the forthcoming Market Research Society conference, 'RESEARCH2003 -the thought leadership: revolution', has now been announced. The event takes place in Birmingham between 19 and 21 March. More
Delegates meeting in Geneva this week at the Third Market Research Leaders Summit (Releas) have decided to support a new worldwide initiative to represent the market research industry at the legislative level in all major world markets to promote laws that protect consumer privacy while assuring the freedom to perform market and opinion research. More
For the first time, the British Safety Council (BSC) has formed a partnership with employment research consultancy, ORC International, to promote the importance of measuring stress in the workplace by using the company's recently launched online survey tool called ORC SAFE (stress analysis for employers). More
In a survey of over 1,600 grocery shoppers by Europinion in the UK in the run up to Christmas, online supermarkets topped the lists. Shoppers were asked where they shopped last and how satisfied they were with the supermarket. Over a half of online supermarket shoppers said they were extremely/very satisfied. This compares with less than 4 in 10 for Tesco, the country's biggest high street supermarket. More
According to new research from ACNielsen U.S., half of all heads of household are too tired to put much time or effort into evening meal preparation, and nearly two-thirds are constantly looking for faster ways to do household chores. More
According to the Mintel Global New Products Database, 2002 has proven to be the most successful year for new product introductions since 1995, with the number of introductions exceeding 22,000. This figure is an increase of 15% over 2001. More
The recently published World Drink Trends 2003 survey reveals this year that more than ever Europeans continue to out-drink the rest of the world. More
Consumers in Hong Kong are becoming less loyal to individual brands and will increasingly take advantage of special offers and promotions in their grocery buying according to the combined results of a telephone survey and consumer panel data recently released by TNS. More
Procter & Gamble, one of the world's leading fmcg companies, has announced its intent to purchase US market share data from ACNielsen effective July 1, 2003. Financial details were not disclosed. More
Monthly Internet shopping soared into ten figures for the first time in November as Britain's 14.3 million online shoppers flooded e-retailers with £1,000 million worth of orders, according to the IMRG Index. More
BT has achieved a significant reduction in the number of customers who express dissatisfaction with its service, following the implementation of ViewsCast's Customer Satisfaction Measurement (CSM) technology in its Marketing Operations, Sales teams and three primary UK call centres. More
ACNielsen U.S., an operating unit of ACNielsen, has recently announced the launch of New Product Qualifier (NPQ), a powerful new software tool to help consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies hone their lists of new product ideas to those with the greatest potential for success. More
The '2003 Latin American Marketing Report,' published this week by Strategy Research Corporation (SRC), now part of Synovate, presents buying power estimates for 18 countries, plus Puerto Rico, and 70 metropolitan markets across Latin America. More
Seventy-six percent of all meals in the US are prepared at home, according to NPDFoodworld, a division of The NPD Group, but Americans are spending less time in the kitchen preparing those meals than ever. More
Today's older children are transforming tactical marketing because they are more independent and comfortable with money, according to the latest research carried out in association with The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) in the UK. More
Corporate responsibility continues to be an important influence on the opinions and behaviour of stakeholders - including consumers - towards companies, according to new research in the UK by MORI. The results are from MORI's annual Corporate Social Responsibility survey. More
Research consultancy, ORC International, has recently eveloped a mathematical analysis ool for Nationwide Building Society in the UK that reveals the link between employee commitment, customer satisfaction and business performance. More
Some 34 per cent of employees in Britain admit to having low levels of commitment to the both the job they do and the company they work for, according to the results of the Global Employee Commitment Report 2002, released by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). This is in keeping with the global average figure of 35 per cent and suggests that a significant proportion of the companies in Britain may be failing to get the most out of their employees. More
Today's global consumers want to protect their favourite brands and will preserve their allegiances to the extent of turning a blind eye to political and ethical malpractice of parent companies according to the findings of a major global research study, RIO (Research International Observer), released this week. More
Latest Consumer Watch research from the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) in the UK shows that Chinese food is the most popular ethnic food among British consumers. More
Interactive Tracking Systems Inc. (Itracks), specialising in online market research data collection services, has launched its new Online Usability tool for website testing. Designed with the input of leading market research firms, Online Usability is designed specifically for market researchers, allowing them to expand their service offerings in the area of website testing. More
Internet research agency RedSheriff is running its syndicated Christmas survey for the third consecutive year this December. Over the past 3 years, more than 250,000 respondents have completed RedSheriff surveys from 30 countries. More
Wundermann, a member of the WPP Group, has recently announced the results of a groundbreaking research initiative, the Wundermann Brand Experience Scorecard, which demonstrates the key role that consumer-brand experience plays in the brand building process. More
The first data from the HealthFocus Trend Survey, collected from more than 2000 'primary grocery shoppers' (mostly women) in Western Europe - the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands - shows that the European consumer is lagging far behind the US, Australia and Chinese consumer in terms of health shopping. More
Senior executives in Europe are downbeat about the outlook of the global economy over the next 12 months, according to research published this week by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) in consultation with Deloitte Consulting. More
ACNielsen U.S. and The Lempert Report, in conjunction with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), has announced the launch of Facts, Figures & The Future, a monthly e-publication that provides food retailers with a comprehensive review and analysis of consumer trends, their impact on the retail environment, and future thinking. More
Marketing is the biggest driver of business results, reveals PA Consulting Group in new research underpinning the October 2002 Marketing Effectiveness campaign run by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). More
Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) has just announced the launch of 'EmployeeScore', a new approach for measuring employee satisfaction and commitment in Britain. More
Scrutinising the future of corporate reporting is the theme of a new half day conference organised by The Market Research Society in the UK to be held in London on 6 December under the title, 'Corporate Reporting and Performance Measurement: The Challenge'. More
CRAM International and Second Sight International have launched QualiQuant (QiQ) International to add the measurement of consumer emotions to the group's resources for clients around the world. More
Next month Research International will publish the latest of its high profile 'RIO' (Research International Observer) qualitative studies. RIO 2002 will explore issues surrounding global branding and the findings will be based on consumer research conducted across 41 countries. More
ACNielsen U.S. has announced that its Convenience Track service now reports on sales of numerous over-the-counter (OTC) remedies, making it the only information service to track sales of such products in convenience stores. More
Driven by consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers' ongoing demand for greater insights into convenience store product sales, Information Resources is introducing its new InfoScan Convenience Store Account Level service. The service is the first of two convenience offerings IRI will bring to market in 2002 as later this year, IRI is scheduled to introduce its new InfoScan Convenience Store National service. More
The first GfK Brand Check survey carried out by Martin Hamblin GfK shows that Heinz is the most popular unprompted recalled brand in the UK. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) has this week announced the launch of new guidelines on Employee Research, aimed at reinforcing The MRS Code of Conduct in this sensitive area of research. More
A new Golin/Harris Trust in Asian Business survey reveals 72 percent of Asians cite a 'crisis of trust in the way we do business,' compared to 69 percent in the USA- but the most and least trusted businesses differ dramatically. More
Research published by Taylor Nelson Sofres to coincide with British Cheese Week shows that more than eight out of ten people in Britain eat cheese at least once a fortnight. More
Taylor Nelson Sofres and Tokyo-based INTAGE Inc have announced the launch of the Asiapanel 2001 Annual Report, Asia's first pan-regional continuous consumer panel offering. More
A new report on petcare and petfood retailing from Mintel highlights the increasing incidence of humanising Britain's pets. The report points towards 'child substitution' and sees the trend of single person households and affluent empty nesters lavishing treasured pets with premium pet foods. More
According to ESOMAR's latest global market research study, turnover of the marketing research industry in Spain totalled US$275 million in 2001. More
At the recent ESOMAR annual congress, the initial findings of the three-stage Marco Polo research project were presented. The research focuses on cooperation between customers and market research providers. It was found in essence that market research clients often live on an island isolated from both end users in their own organisation and research providers. More
ESOMAR's latest global market research study shows that the total market for market research worldwide in 2001 was US$15,890 million or €17,756 million. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) in the UK has this week announced the launch of its first Internet-based training course. Developed in partnership with specialist electronic publisher Nelson Croom, The MRS Questionnaire Design course will be delivered entirely online and is designed to improve the professionalism and skills of research practitioners, both in the UK and internationally. More
A wide range of prices is being quoted for identical surveys, suggesting agencies may not be maximising their profits. This is a major finding from £quotecheck, a recent pricing study undertaken among MR agencies by research consultancy Richard Horswell Market Research (RHMR), in its latest survey - the third to date. More
Never before has the need to understand the interaction between economics, consumer behaviour and attitudes, political and technological factors been so great. To provide the boardroom with the best possible chance of calling next year correctly, The Henley Centre has designed a one day event 'Planning for 2003' to be held on November 8 in London. More
According to a new report from Mintel Retail Intelligence, Marks & Spencer remains Europe's number one choice for clothing while Tesco consolidates its runner-up position as the second largest grocer in Europe. More
Latest research from Mintel highlights growing concern over food safety among British consumers. In 1997, 41% of adults were concerned about the safety of our food, this has risen to 44% of consumers in 2002. More
The most recent annual statistics breakdown of the UK industry from the BMRA (British Market Research Association) shows total industry turnover for the year 2001 was £1.15 billion, up from £1.07 billion in 2000. Although lower than the 9.3% increase over 1999, when turnover was £1 billion, last year's increase still outstripped inflation. More
ESOMAR has just announced its 2003 calendar. Covering a wide range of subjects, the calendar consolidates regular events and also launches a number of exciting new initiatives. More
IT agency ATP has just released Winyaps 3.43. This version contains two important new features as well as providing numerous small enhancements requested by customers. In addition research agency NFO have standardised on Winyaps as their table presentation and distribution software after a lengthy evaluation process. More
With the first wave of 2001 Census outputs expected in September in the UK, how many readers are prepared to act on the new information? The outputs from the 2001 Census will provide unprecedented detail about the UK population - both the traditional residential population and also the workplace population of each specified area. More
When it comes to major sponsorship events like the World Cup, non-sponsoring companies can choose to take a back seat, or they can apply clever marketing strategies to offset the heavy exposure and endorsement of a competitive brand sponsorship, according to findings from a recent ACNielsen Online study. More
New research recently released by ACNielsen U.S. shows that organic food buyers are extremely loyal to the category, and intend to keep buying, while non-buyers have virtually no interest in organic products. More
The Independent Consultants Group (ICG) in the UK is hosting the 'Research Clinic', an exclusive service for research buyers and consultancies, at the forthcoming Research Show to be held in early October in London. More
ACNielsen U.S this week unveiled Sales Management Planner (SMP), a new Web-based sales management system accessed through the ACNielsen Answers Internet portal. More
The Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK is challenging the traditional strategy of reducing costs, especially marketing spend, and cutting investment to ride the storm of a downturn in consumer spending. More
The National Statistics unit in the UK is holding an Open Day on October 11 in central London giving statistics users the chance to hear about latest developments and to discuss future directions and priorities. More
The average Briton eats 155 sandwiches a year, according to new findings from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
Switzerland is an oasis of affluence: seven out of eight of the richest European regions are in the Swiss Confederation. Geneva leads the way with disposable income per capita of around EUR 36,000 per annum. The inhabitants of Eastern Europe, on the other hand, have to live far more modestly, the countries with the least disposable income being Albania (EUR 563), the Ukraine (EUR 379) and Moldavia (EUR 223). These are the findings of a survey carried out by GfK-Regionalforschung. More
According to latest research from the AMI Group, a shake-out of the Chinese domestic beer market is under way and at this point it is unclear who will come out the strongest. One thing that is for sure is that many foreign players have been having a hard time of it. More
'The majority of price promotions lead in the long-term to brand share erosion' was the summary by Thomas Bachl, Managing Director of GfK Panel Services Consumer Research, at the recent GfK Annual Conference. This result comes from a survey of 157 brands covering products in regular daily use. More
ACNielsen U.S has announced a major upgrade to its industry-leading category management intelligence system, Category Business Planner. A new set of facts, known as 'baselines,' has been added to the system. Baselines are estimates of how much volume a product would have generated without in-store trade promotion activity, enabling clients to measure the incremental impact of their promotions. More
Latest research from Mintel studying alcoholic drinking trends across the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy finds 89% of British drinking alcoholic drinks either in-home or elsewhere. Drinking in the UK is closely followed by France, with 88% of the French consuming alcohol. More
The latest edition of Research News from the Market Research Society of Australia reports that the next Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey of the domestic market research industry will go into field in August. More
At the recent 2002 GfK Annual Conference, Professor Dr. Hermann Diller, marketing expert and holder of the Chair of Economics at the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, spoke on intelligent pricing management. More
The Harris Poll latest annual survey results on 'best brands' shows Sony listed in the number one position, picked by more people than any other brand. Sony tops the list for the third year in a row, and for the fifth time in seven years. In the eight years since Harris Interactive began asking this question, Sony has never been lower than third and no other brand comes close to matching this record. More
A new report from Mintel's Retail Intelligence reveals that food retailing remains one of the most dynamic and innovative retail sectors with sales forecast to grow by 17% between 2001 and 2006. The rationalisation started by Wal-Mart and the Carrefour-Promodès deal still has far to go and there will be more merger deals in the next few years. More
Two pioneers of Internet research, Ray Poynter and Pete Comley, have teamed up to launch a new company called Europinion Ltd to specialise in conducting conventional research online. More
Approximately five per cent of adults in Britain claim to be vegetarian, but research by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Family Food Panel has revealed that half of these people actually eat fish, one third eat chicken and one quarter eat red meat. This leaves an average of less than three per cent of the population who are true vegetarians, the significant minority of which are women aged 17-34 years old. More
'Count the beats of your heart not the fingers on your hand' is the message Kevin Roberts, Worldwide CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi will give to the world's market researchers in his keynote speech to the ESOMAR Congress in Barcelona this September. More
For those readers experiencing conference withdrawal symptoms as the summer season approaches, The Market Research Society in the UK has just unveiled radical new plans for its annual Conference, 'Research 2003'. This will take place between 19-21 March 2003 and will run at a new venue, the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. More
ESOMAR is holding its 54th Annual Congress from 22 to 25 September in Barcelona with the conference returning to Spain for the first time in ten years. Entitled 'Consolidation or Renewal? From Research to Customer Insight', the congress will examine the impact of consolidation in business and include papers on important areas such as innovation, branding, segmentation, new technologies and market research methods. More
ACNielsen has recently launched an innovative new service for manufacturers and retailers, The ACNielsen Global Passport - an on-line product catalogue and new product registration service. More
Almost three-quarters of the leading brands from as long as thirty years ago were still market leaders in 2001 according to speakers at this year's GfK annual conference on issues of modern brand management held recently in Nuremberg. More
Figures for job postings and mean salaries from MrWeb for the first six months of the year show an industry returning to normal. Mean salaries are higher than in the first half of 2001 and numbers of jobs advertised are very similar. There has been a significant shift towards recruitment of senior people and away from junior, and a steep rise in client side hirings since March. Detailed stats will appear in MRWho later this week. More
Results of this year's annual ORC 'SnackTrack' study show that the UK impulse market for soft drinks is back in growth - up 4.4 percent in value terms, and 2.4 percent for purchases. Impulse sales are still dominated by colas (Coca Cola), but planned sales are now led by fruit carbonates. More
In 2001 three of the five fastest growing food and beverage categories in the global marketplace were drinks, led by prepared alcoholic beverages, according to a recent study released from ACNielsen. Water and drinkable yogurts also made the top five. Out of more than 90 categories reviewed, only nine grew by 10% or more in 2001. More
New research on the UK snacks market from Mintel, 'Snacking on the go', has been released this week. The new study finds that the value of the sector will reach over £9 billion by the end of 2002, representing an increase of £67 million over 2001. More
A polite reminder from the MRS has just reached the offices of DRNO. Apparently, the annual researchers' Golf Tournament, sponsored by NOP, is set for Thursday 27th June, at the Wyke Green Golf Club in Middlesex. More
Billions of dollars are spent worldwide on marketing to children, but this type of promotion is seen as a highly contentious and controversial one. Many European countries ban it, while others are considering imposing further restrictions. More
Online researcher Itracks has announced the results of its 2002 Market Research Industry Survey. This year's survey is the third annual industry study conducted by Itracks; the inaugural survey won honourable mention at the 2000 EXPLOR competition, awarded by the A. C. Nielsen Center for Marketing Research Awards. More
As a research provider, do your know how your prices compare with the market? Are you charging your clients too much? Could you benefit from greater marketplace intelligence? Independent consultants Richard Horswell and Sally Donovan are possibly able to help you with these difficult questions. More
Meal times across Europe are becoming more fragmented, with many people dropping their main meals in favour of snacking at work or eating out in restaurants. This is according to analysis in Datamonitor's new report, 'Changing Mealtimes'. More
A new official body representing European market research is to be launched later this year. The brainchild of ESOMAR and EFAMRO, the organisation, entitled the 'European Marketing Research Alliance' (EMRA), will primarily lobby against any negative legislation across EU member states. More
New Zealand has experienced a surge in business use of the Internet over the last two years or so. This is according to a new survey commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Development. More
Marketing and opinion research appears to be a growth industry in Brazil, with a turnover of US$ 197 million in 2000. This is according to information released in ESOMAR's new global market research study. The sector grew by 11 percent overall during 2001 and continues to show steady growth into 2002. More
Most researchers believe that response rates have declined steadily over the past 20 years. Many are gloomy about the future as well, with rates set to continue falling. In the face of this, the CMR Group are running a seminar for all concerned researchers offering some smart solutions to this serious problem. More
The winds of change sweeping through the world of the Big Five accountants are proving to be beneficial. This is according to new research in the recently released 'Global Tax Monitor' from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
Sending and receiving e-mail was the dominant online activity in 12 countries over the past six months, with Australians leading the way, according to the Nielsen//NetRatings First Quarter 2002 Global Internet Trends report. More
ESOMAR has this week announced the second phase of an important new research project called Marco Polo. Aimed at gathering information on the needs of market research in client companies, the project aims to find ways in which to maximise the impact of market research. More
New research from Information Resources (IR) this week shows that most UK biscuit manufacturers enjoyed a slight value growth over the course of 2001. According to Marketing Week, this upturn in value reflects how consumers are increasingly eating premium products. More
Central Europeans attach less importance to the brands of the products they purchase, compared with consumers in Britain, according to the Brand Loyalty Study from Taylor Nelson Sofres published this week. The results coincide with the launch of Omnimas, a TNS omnibus service, in Central Europe. More
The latest CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) Marketing Trends Survey in the UK shows a major upward revision to planned sales growth. At the same time, however, confidence that these plans can be achieved has dropped back close to its lowest ever level. More
Taylor Nelson Sofres has just announced a joint venture with one of Greece's leading information and consulting services companies, ICAP A.E. The new company, to be known as TNS ICAP A.E., will provide market information to clients in sectors including consumer, telecoms, automotive, banking and finance. More
The mindset in client companies is shifting towards increasing the profitability of research. The common characteristic is broadening the range of clients that the research company works with and widening the types of services offered. There is a stronger focus on fund raising and on the contribution of marketing research to the bottom line. These are main conclusions of the unique cross MR industry forum 'Managing Research for Profit' held by ESOMAR last month. More
Latest research from ACNielsen's US Consumer Pre*View service, released during the annual Food Marketing Institute Convention, shows that consumers are planning to cut back on restaurant dining, sentiment towards American made grocery products is declining and ethnic shoppers in the States are embracing healthy eating. More
E-retail is facing a year in which shopping online will becoming 'everyday'; merchants will get to optimise their existing e-commerce assets; and 'interactive media' will start to re-shape much of retail overall. This is according to the latest annual statement from the IMRG (the e-retail industry body) released earlier this week. More
Chris van Schijndel has stepped down from his forthcoming appointment as Director General of ESOMAR. Unforeseen private circumstances have been offered as the reason for his change of mind. More
Media researcher Ipsos-RSL is set for a summer launch for the new addition to its Europe 2000 family of surveys. The latest study, entitled 'Europe 2002', will be welcomed with a host of events during the month of July. More
Part of the problem surrounding the whole issue of consumer loyalty, according to new analysis from Through the Loop, is that all too often marketers are focusing on attracting new customers rather on satisfying their existing customer base. More
Given the controversial environment surrounding marketing to children, those in the industry must be doubly sure that they get their marketing approach right. A relaunched journal, Advertising & Marketing to Children, is designed to assist by aiming to help marketers reach under-18s through both responsible and successful campaigns. More
PMB, Print Measurement Bureau, and KMR, owners of the Global Target Group Index (TGI), have announced an agreement establishing PMB as Global TGI's Canadian partner. Under the terms of the agreement, PMB is granted Canadian sales rights to Global TGI's research data internationally, and Global TGI member companies are granted corresponding rights to PMB research data. More
Packaged grocery inflation in Australia settled at a fairly benign 3.5 percent in March 2002, down from 5 percent at the end of 2001.This is according to the latest findings from a new ACNielsen study into grocery prices down under. More
Employee research specialist ORC International is hosting a free seminar at its London offices on 2 May, focussing on its new on-line tools designed to help HR professionals collect and analyse their employee research data. More
Information Resources has formed a strategic relationship with UK software and consulting company The Fifth Dimension to provide consumer packaged goods (CPG) retailers and manufacturers with a fully integrated shelf-to-store merchandising solution. More
Research agency RDSi has just completed a brand new survey on pregnant women and parents of pre-school children. The results are to be presented at two seminars in early May at the agency's London offices. More
Latest data from the British Market Research Association shows the UK MR industry is holding up well economically. It appears to be showing better returns than other marketing disciplines, such as advertising, and has fair prospects for the present year's trading in total. More
NFO WorldGroup has this week announced the acquisition of FYI Worldwide, the second largest provider in the USA of new product volume forecasts. More
Web research giant Netratings has just increased its cyber-clout by purchasing AdRelevance, the online advertising spend monitoring business of competitor Jupiter Media Metrix. It is believed that the acquisition is worth USD8.5 million. More
The Market Research Society of Australia (MRSA) has announced it is to hold the inaugural meeting of its new Independent Research Group (IRG) during the first week of May. The group has been set up in response to the reported needs of independent researchers. More
The fact that consumers feel that retail and service companies have used the introduction of Euro cash currency as a pretext for putting up their prices evidently placed a considerable damper on willingness to buy in the first two months of 2002. This is one of the significant results of a survey on the consumer climate in six EU countries, recently carried out on behalf of the European Commission by GfK. More
Whatever the economic climate, measuring the effectiveness of your advertising campaign or the strength of your brand is a critical factor to business success. Drawing on over 20 years of advertising insight, Paul Feldwick's latest book, 'What is Brand Equity Anyway?' (published by WARC) is likely to be of interest to anyone concerned with brands, marketing and advertising. More
The American Marketing Association is set to honour its annual award winners at a 'Frontiers in Services' conference this June in Maastricht, The Netherlands. This year's best services marketing award will go to recent work done on the limitations and biases that a survey can introduce to the research process. More
ACNielsen U.S. has fully acquired the alcohol beverage information services it previously jointly-owned with Adams Business Research. The specialist research, known as LiquorScan, is to now be operated across the States by ACNielsen alone. More
A new online media planning tool called 'Audience insite Measures' (AiM) has been launched this week by Jupiter Media Metrix. Designed to help both US advertisers and media sellers, it provides in-depth demographic, lifestyle and qualitative information on a wide range of websites and visitors. More
Creating online awareness, generating click-throughs, and building Net sales often go wrong as users leave their metaphorical web purchases at the 'counter'. Improving this situation is the aim of NOP World's new 'RelevantView' software system launched last week. More
European women still use the web in a very different way from men, according to new Jupiter MMXI research. The gender differences are persisting across the Union as well despite the increase in the numbers of women online and their overall Internet 'savviness'. More
RedSheriff, has just launched a set of four 'off-the-shelf surveys' for website owners. These are in the form of their new general, customer satisfaction, e-commerce and demographic products. More
CRM agency, KnowledgeBase Marketing, has recently partnered with Yankelovich, a consumer research firm, to offer clients a new marketing tool. MONITOR MindBase, the leading attitudinal segmentation product developed by Yankelovich, is now available to KnowledgeBase Marketing clients for data enhancement and list rental through the AmeriLINK Consumer Database. More
When asked to rank their brands' attributes, marketers gave 'value for money' the highest average ranking in the Chartered Institute of Marketing's (CIM) recent Marketing Trends survey in the UK. More
To what extent are today's consumers interested in environmental and other sustainability issues? How can advertisers and agencies reflect this in their communications? These are the two key issues to be addressed at the IPA's 'Can Sustainability Sell?' conference to be held this Wednesday 20th March 2002. More
Loyalty to big retail websites varies across Europe, according to Jupiter research just released for the first time. The latest results show that German online shoppers are likely to return to a site the most, whilst the Italian and Swiss are less likely to do so. More
In the second of a special feature on papers coming up at the forthcoming MRS conference, we look at the issue of branding and size as presented by Mark Kingsbury of Research International. More
SPSS MR has forged a new alliance with Optimum Pay, a leader in online payment systems in a drive to boost survey participation rates. With Optimum Pay, customers can create highly differentiated incentive programmes that drive cooperation rates in surveys. Since Optimum Pay runs on the Web, administrative burdens and costs are kept to a minimum. More
Employee research specialist, ORC International, has just calculated that its 'Perspectives' benchmarking database - launched back in 1996 - now contains the opinions of nearly 1.1 million UK employees. More
UK recruitment consultancy pricejamieson, has introduced a dedicated team to provide HR services for its clients, with Claire Lloyd appointed as Head of HR Services. More
This week sees a two day conference (March 14 and 15) in central London organised by IQPC entitled 'Generating and Leveraging Consumer Insight'. More
The UK's first national email ethics survey has revealed that over half (53%) of white- collar employees from the UK's largest cities behave 'e-morally' on email whilst at work. This untoward behaviour includes the use of email to 'back stab' colleagues, along with the deliberate sending of racist, sexist, pornographic or discriminatory emails. More
Media planning tools for online advertising have arrived this week in the shape of new tools from Jupiter Media Metrix. The company's research-based Internet ad planning resource promises to bring reach and frequency estimates to Net campaigns for the first time. More
Just published, Excellence in International Research 2002, the third in the series, contains a collection of the best papers from ESOMAR events in 2001, selected for their major contribution to excellence and best practice in international research. More
Ivor Stocker, Chairman of the British Market Research Association, has been appointed to the council of the Market Research Society in the UK. More
Despite a difficult trading environment, preliminary figures from GfK indicate that the agency has achieved good results for the 2001 year. Total revenue rose by 11% to EUR 534.0 million, whilst earnings before interest and tax including income from participations (aEBIT), increased by 14.5% to EUR 45.1 million. More
Around nine out of ten companies in the US (93%) and UK (86%) are now using the Internet for activities such as CRM, marketing, order fulfilment and selling to deal with customers according to research by Taylor Nelson Sofres Information Technology. In stark contrast, six out of ten (60%) companies in Japan and fewer than four out of ten (36%) companies in France are using the Internet as a marketing channel or customer service mechanism. More
The first ESOMAR Conference on Customer Relationship Marketing (CRM) is scheduled for 17 to 19 March in Prague. The event aims to provide a unique platform to review the current state of the market research industry in relation to the opportunities offered by CRM. More
Net auditor RedSheriff is offering UK website owners a two month, reduced rate fee for the measurement and filtering of their ABC traffic data. ABC ELECTRONIC already offers website owners a half price registration fee to all those that use RedSheriff. More
Australia's overall 2001 advertising economy has been depressed by a decline in major category advertising post September 11. This is according to the latest annual advertising expenditure figures released by ACNielsen Media International. More
ACNielsen Burke Institute and Burke, Inc. have entered into a joint venture to combine the ACNielsen Burke Institute and Burke's The Training & Development Center under one organization to be named The Burke Institute. This joint venture will bring together the faculty and course content from both organisations, combining over 70 years of marketing research knowledge. More
The Independent Consultant's Group (ICG) in the UK has this week launched its website at http://www.indepconsultants.org More
Following its acquisition of Corporate Focus Foods in December 2001, independent marketing consultancy Through the Loop has now increased its competitive intelligence coverage of the food industry by adding two more companies to its international reporting service, i.e. Cadbury Schweppes and PepsiCo. More
Jupiter Media Metrix has this week introduced what is claimed to be the first independent online advertising and marketing measurement system. Called 'Campaign Analysis', the tool should provide accurate and up-to-date measures of online campaigns. More
ORC International has announced the recruitment of Nick Mawditt as the company's new trade and retail manager. Moving from research director at Initiative Media, Mawditt will be based in ORC's London offices. More
Global agency Ipsos has reported consolidated revenues of Euros 480.1 million for the year ending December 31, 2001, an increase of 46% over 2000 turnover. On a like for like basis growth came in at 8% for the year, confirming the ability of Ipsos to maintain a growth rate higher than that of the research market overall. More
At the recent Net Effects 5 Conference, the ESOMAR Programme Committee met to select the nominations for the John and Mary Goodyear Award of Best International Papers. More
ACNielsen U.S. has released findings from its new Consumer Pre*View service that provide positive news for the domestic consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. More
Information Resources Inc (IRI) has just posted full year trading results for 2001. The group has reported a net income, before restructuring and other items, of $5.8 million or $0.20 per share, an improvement of $5.4 million or $0.18 per share year-on-year. More
MRS Conference-goers among us will probably remember that the annual Brighton event approaches soon. As ever, the events will include an auction for the Market Research Benevolent Association (MRBA), to be managed this year by NOP. More
Over 90% of senior executives in the Australian direct mail industry believe that the country's new Privacy Act will impact on their businesses to some extent. This is according to the detailed findings of the first ACNielsen MailTrack survey of Australian direct mail online released this week. More
Do you want to hear industry views on 'Understanding and Overcoming the Limitations of Web-Based Market Research'? If so, the forthcoming second annual Henry Stewart conference on the subject is scheduled for central London on 26th February. More
Taylor Nelson Sofres/Gallup Media has stated that it is looking to expand outside of its media ratings stronghold in its Russian operations. The company now intends to build a general market research operation and capability in the region within the next two years. More
WARC's new 'European Advertising & Media Yearbook 2002' is now available. Claiming it is the most comprehensive and authoritative source of European and media data available, it should be an asset to any marketer's bookshelf or briefcase. More
The Aegis Group has just acquired Market&More, a European research group with operations in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France. More
Almost two thirds of Australians think the world economy is heading for recession. This is the headline finding from a new Asia Pacific online survey on consumer confidence from ACNielsen. More
As the theme for the Chartered Institute of Marketing's 2002 conference to be held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 22nd February, branding will be investigated in a number of ways. More
As of today you can register for a free, regular email with details of market research *events* of relevance to you - conferences, seminars, courses, speaker meetings, training, interest groups and others. Select the types of event you want and choose from weekly, fortnightly or monthly emails. Register at www.mrweb.com/input/evt-not.htm or read more details first... More
Research2002, this year's Annual Conference of The Market Research Society (MRS), is now approaching fast, to be held in Brighton on 20th to 22nd March. The central theme of this year's event is 'Insight into Action' with the aim of demonstrating to attendees how, in an increasingly competitive market, consumer insight has clear implications for marketing activity in both the public and private sectors. More
The Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK just has launched an important initiative 'The Knowledge Centre'. CIM's goal is to create an encyclopaedia of knowledge, tools and information, which practitioners will find practical and useful. More
ACNielsen U.S has found the University of Michigan's respected Consumer Sentiment Index to be a good predictor of future changes in consumer purchasing of food, health and beauty aids, and non-food consumer packaged goods (CPG). More
Leaders of the market research industry, meeting last week in Geneva for the second consecutive year, to discuss ways to strengthen the position of market research, agreed to take action on a number of key priorities. The 50 leaders attending the global Research Leaders Summit, also called RELEAS 2, organized by ARF and ESOMAR, have decided to establish a global lobbying body for the market research industry. More
Information Resources recently announced the launch of Attribute Drivers. This new analytic service helps consumer goods manufacturers optimise their product portfolios by understanding the value of specific product attributes, including brand name. More
Global agency Taylor Nelson Sofres has issued a trading update ahead of its preliminary results announcement on March 18 this year. The group expects its underlying improvement in 2001 to be slightly ahead of market growth, which is generally estimated to be 5%. More
Survey Sampling, Inc. (SSI) and the Excite Network's iWon portal have joined forces to provide an expanded range of sampling services to the marketing research industry. The partnership will also allow SSI to further expand the SurveySpot Internet Sampling Panel, a multi-sourced Internet research panel representing over a million individuals. More
WARC and Admap are hosting the Third Annual conference on Measuring the Effectiveness of Sales Promotion in London on 5th February. More
According to the latest MORI annual Captains of Industry survey, belief in the value of the Euro to Britain has risen again following a decline over the previous three years. By around 3:2, Britain's business leaders support rather than oppose Britain joining. More
In an interview with China Daily, the secretary general of the China Marketing Research Association has urged domestic research agencies to develop new growth areas quickly so as to adapt to changing circumstances in the sector. More
NetValue has released its latest Asian Internet research, showing ongoing encouraging audience figures. It has also named a new Asian operations president, Dr. Jack Loo, previously Country Manager of Singapore operations. He takes over from previous president Ms. Darlene Lee. More
The British Market Research Association (BMRA) is hosting a free directors' briefing on 31st January in central London with the aim of helping to benchmark your company's performance. More
According to new data from Jupiter Media Metrix, both brick-and-mortar and online-only retailers have struggled to respond to customer service e-mails quickly this holiday season. More
WARC is holding its fourth one day conference on Models of Thinking later this month on Thursday 17th January in central London. The event promises to explore how creative thinking can improve your brand, your marketing strategies and your methods of communication. More
Book sales down under have rocketed in the lead up to Christmas. The buying rush has meant that the value of book sales has risen by 23% compared to the corresponding week in 2000. These are the latest figures to be revealed from ACNielsen BookTrack this week. More
Online purchasing continues to improve for consumers in the United States and remains far ahead of key European markets, according to Accenture's third-annual holiday eFullfillment survey, which includes for the first time this year France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. More
Citing a recent Forrester report that 63% of Global 3500 firms surveyed are not satisfied with the effectiveness of their website assessment, Netusability has launched its Customer Experience Platform, a solution of website monitoring, usability testing and online analytics software and services for businesses with an online channel. More
What are the new realities of research and business on the Internet? This is the key topic to be discussed at the forthcoming 5th ESOMAR Net Effects Conference scheduled for Berlin next February. More
New retail research from Mintel shows that almost a third of British consumers are willing to spend more on all their Christmas needs this year than last. British men are the most optimistic for Christmas 2001, with some 35% planning to spend more this season. By contrast, women are proving thriftier, with only 29% planning to spend more. More
Young SuperChef Jamie Oliver is thought to top the table of celebrity chefs who influence the way we cook. This is one of the conclusions of a new MORI study, Eating and Today's Lifestyle, conducted for the Nestlé Family Monitor and released this week. More
A quarter of the UK workforce is connected to the Internet, with 7.8 million people having access and regularly going online during office hours. An estimated 15 million British people also have home Internet access according to new research on Internet usage revealed by NetValue this week. More
Research-based marketing consultancy Through the Loop has announced the strengthening of its Corporate Focus division with the addition of a Foods service. The new intelligence boosts the company's existing Healthcare and Beverages services. More
A new website has just been launched by the Marketing Council to demonstrate best practice on the web. http://www.e4M.biz recently reviewed in the '2020' newsletter, is the UK's first non-commercial website designed to guide senior corporate executives on the best practice and theory of e-marketing. More
The Market Research Society (MRS) has just completed a deal with publishers Pearson Education to develop a textbook and website for The MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice. More
At this week's Online Information 2001 conference in London, Outsell, Inc announced the release of a landmark multi-client study summarising the information needs, habits, and preferences of 500 European sales and marketing professionals across 10 industries in the UK, France, and Germany. More
German agency GfK has taken its first steps into the massive South American market with the acquisition of a 19.9% stake in Indicator Brazil. GfK has the option to progressively acquire the entire Indicator operation and marks the initial stage towards the company launching its own activities in South America. More
Britain's industrial sector has recorded its worst annual output in October since the country's last economic recession a decade ago. This is according to the latest official industrial production data from the National Statistics office. More
Customer experience management agency Netusability has closed on a US$2 million venture investment, bringing its total funding raised to date to US$4.7 million. The latest funding has been received from eVerger, a US$100 million joint venture established by media agency Aegis Group and Warburg Pincus, the global private equity partnership. More
NOP World has announced strategic online alliances with Tiscali and iPoints as it launches its new e-Omnibus service in Britain. The largest GB Internet Omnibus, e-Omnibus is representative of the weekly online user population, estimated to be some 15 million adults. More
In the first nine months of 2001, the GfK Group increased its total revenue by 8.3% up from Euro 352.2 million to Euro 381.5 million, whilst earnings before interest and tax rose by Euro 4.9 million to Euro 32.7 million. More
Internet household penetration in central and eastern Europe (CEE) will grow quickly over the next five years, from just over 5% now to 21% in 2005, according to a new Yankee Group report, "Promises, Promises: Internet Will Flower in Eastern Europe, but Only in Patches." More
Consumer e-commerce occurs among 60% of the UK's major companies, half of which expect to see sales grow over the next year. Two thirds also advertise on the net, half of which plan to increase their spend in the coming 12 months. These are the key findings of an ISBA /Advertising Research Consortium (ARC) study on net marketing released recently. More
Asians rank air conditioners as the number one household white goods product they intend to buy in the next twelve months. This is according to the latest household products research from AMI's regional omnibus survey AsiaBUS conducted across 14 key markets in the Asia Pacific region. More
A new survey from the German retailers' association HDE predicts that online turnover in Germany will have doubled this year from the levels achieved in 2000. However, the year 2001 will be the last year to witness a treble digit growth rate according to the report. More
Recent analysis of 1,200 brands on Millward Brown's BrandDynamics(TM) and BRANDZ database, as reported in the recent e-Perspectives newsletter, refutes the commonly held belief that brands follow an inevitable life cycle. More
The fastest-growing, top 10 UK grocery brands today are Muller and Flora, both enjoying year-on-year sales growth of a fifth. Checkout magazine's new ranking also reveals a grocery market of intensifying competition, with 61 brands all gaining annual sales. More
It is predicted that a tenth of home Internet users will be hooked up to broadband access this time next year, according to BMRB's latest Internet Monitor results. This represents more than double the number of today's home users (estimated at just 4%) who have signed up with either a cable provider or an ISP offering ADSL. More
More than a third (38%) of SMEs (small to medium enterprises) in Britain believe that the UK economy is currently experiencing a "slow down" rather than a recession, according to the findings of a recent survey from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). More
Is your company doing all it can to capture the £10 billion a year of student spending? This is the main issue under discussion at the forthcoming "Marketing to Students 2001" conference organised by Marketing Week on the 5th December. More
Brand success depends on four broad drivers, and marketing visibility has a strong part to play in adding to a brand's equity. These messages were at the core of a client breakfast seminar organised by Millward Brown UK earlier this week entitled "World Brands". More
WARC and Admap are hosting the 2nd Annual Benchmarks in Buyer Behaviour one day seminar in London on November 27th. The event will examine patterns of buyer behaviour based on results from the R&D Initiative at South Bank University. More
ORC International has announced the introduction of two new online tools for HR managers. Launching at the end of this week, the new tools in particular should greatly aid research into employee pay and benefits. More
Brits overwhelmingly believe that UK companies should show a high degree of responsibility to the public in difficult economic times. This is the headline finding from MORI's latest survey on Corporate Social Responsibility. More
Itracks, the online MR software supplier, has just announced the launch of its new Research Engineer software programme. This system is billed as a "one-stop hub for research professionals, allowing them to manage their online projects from one central location." More
Thomson Intermedia has revealed the findings of its detailed investigation into the marketing and advertising strategies of the key players currently targeting the "Affluent Grey" market in the UK. More
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) is this week lobbying e-Minister Douglas Alexander about a new EU privacy directive on the use of "cookies". The IPA contest that the current directive's amendments could potentially cripple what is viewed as an already vulnerable e-commerce industry. More
NFO World Group has announced the North American launch of its relationship management software TRI*M. The recently updated system processes stakeholder relationship data to create simple customer information, useful in preventing customer "leakage" and securing good returns from company customer satisfaction programmes. More
ACNielsen U.S. and ACNielsen Canada have decided to combine their separate retail tracking services. SCANTRACK North America will now represent the combined system of ACNielsen's SCANTRACK in the United States and MarketTrack in Canada. More
Marketing and opinion research is a fast growing industry in Hungary, and shows more dynamic growth than the economy itself. According to ESOMAR and PSMZ data, turnover in the sector reached roughly US$30 million last year, showing an annual growth rate of 20%. More
The CBI has renewed pressure for a half-point cut in interest rates after publishing a survey showing the US terrorist attacks further eroding UK business confidence. The survey of almost 250 top executives, carried out by MORI, paints the most comprehensive picture yet of the impact that September 11 had on British firms and will have in future. More
According to a new study from ACNielsen, only 43 consumer product brands ring up annual sales of more than US$1 billion each and so can be considered truly global. More
Research carried out this month by Martin Hamblin GfK on behalf of the European Commission indicates that consumer confidence is still falling. The October Consumer Confidence Barometer (CCB), which measures the public's confidence in the UK's economic climate, shows confidence dropping by 4 points to register a score of -5, the lowest score since the fuel crisis last autumn. More
In a bold new move, the MRS and the BMRA in the UK have decided to rationalise their directory publications. This is in place of the previous publication of the two separate listings of research suppliers and services. More
How can firms maximise the revenue they generate from their online activities? This is the central issue to be examined at "Maximising Key Revenue Streams", Forrester Research's forthcoming free Executive Breakfast to be held on November 6 in London. More
Insightful Corporation, a leading provider of enterprise software solutions for data analysis, and FIRM Inc., a provider of Internet-based survey and feedback software, are to integrate their respective technologies into a single, seamless market research and CRM solution called confirmit Customer Behaviour Modelling (CBM). More
ACNielsen U.S has delivered the first sales information and insights from its new Wal-Mart Channel Service. More
Competitive advantage through industry intelligence has been the core business of Corporate Focus since its inception early in 2000. Initially concentrating on news and analysis of the key players in the consumer healthcare market, the company has now announced the launch of its service based on soft drinks information. More
A new "one-stop-shopping" website called INVEST JAPAN! has been launched this month. Offering a wide range of information and statistics on Japan's various industries and regions, the site has been created by the government-supported Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). More
Sales of packaged groceries in Australia increased over the last month, in the wake of the September terrorist attacks on the US and the collapse of Ansett, according to ACNielsen's latest Scantrack retail measurement information. More
ACNielsen in the USA has recently announced that it will add local market data for meat snacks to its convenience channel sales information service, Convenience Track. Information about the category will expand beyond a "Total US reporting" category and will be available for 30 major markets beginning in the first quarter of 2002. More
FDS International is to sponsor the Customer Insight category in next year's Marketing Society Awards. This category is open to all those who demonstrate the best use of research or database development to provide real insights into customer behaviour. This can include research for new product development. More
Just over four fifths of the share-owning population believe investing in the stock market represents a good long-term investment. This is the headline finding from the recently released 2001 British Share Ownership Survey, conducted for the London Stock Exchange and ProShare by MORI and the World Investor Link. More
The Annual Research Industry Angling Competition will take place at the Willinghurst Estate Fishery near Cranleigh, Surrey on Friday 2nd November. Once again, the day will be generously sponsored by the New Fieldwork Company with tackle prizes and trophies being presented to the winners. More
Peter Hutton, deputy managing director of MORI and BMRA Council member, has reported on the recently conducted survey of BMRA members in the organisation's newly launched newsletter. The results show an overall desire for the MRS and BMRA to work more closely together. More
The opening address at the recent ESOMAR Annual Congress by President John Kelly neatly summed up the transformation of the market research industry. As we are all aware, globalisation and developments in ICT are transforming international business on an unprecedented scale. The swing to a different economy is producing profound and unexpected changes in the structure of society, business and ways of working. More
The Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR) in the US has appointed Larry Mock as its President and CEO, effective immediately. More
A new report on Food Retailing in the UK from Mintel finds just 15% of shoppers loyal to their main grocery shop. More
French agency Ipsos has reported strong first half results with revenues up 64% and net income up a considerable 106% as well as an improvement in operational profitability. More
The MRS in the UK (Market Research Society) has announced the launch of its Accredited Interviewer Training Scheme (AITS), a cross-industry initiative designed to enhance professional standards of interviewing throughout the market research industry and improve the experience for interviewees. More
Research consultancy, ORC International, is organising two free seminars at its London (11 October) and Manchester (8 November) offices, focusing on the needs of HR professionals. More
The European manufacturing sector is now thought to be firmly in economic recession. This is according to the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for September as measured by Reuters, September 2001, and reported by NTC Research. More
A significant number of leading grocery brands have held their market share within the UK's aggressive retailing environment. Indeed, some observers point out that many have in fact increased their market share. This phenomenon is the basis for the forthcoming research-based Admap conference on Premium Brands to be held in London on October 25th. More
In a bid to revolutionise the delivery of data, ActiveGroup, a leader in delivering streaming media solutions for marketing research, is partnering with AcuPOLL(r) Research, Inc. More
Habbo Hotel (www.habbohotel.com), the growing teenage community website, was recently commissioned by the online youth market research company, the Fat Group to supply a large sample of UK teenagers for a new product development task for a major food and drink client. More
The key issues facing marketers in their search for globalisation are discussed in the latest edition of MarketLoop from Through the Loop Consulting. More
ORC International is hosting an one day Stakeholder Consultation seminar in London on October 25th. The event will address a number of factors to be borne in mind at the outset of a stakeholder consultation programme. More
Jupiter Media Metrix is aiming to set the standard in web traffic analysis with the launch of its new Site Measurement service. More
WARC is hosting an one day event on October 2 in London which aims to stimulate the brain cells. "Rethinking the Consumer" promises to bring new thought processes into how consumers are researched and targeted. More
The Market Research Society (MRS)in the UK has just received accreditation from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). This move makes The MRS the sole official UK awarding body for qualifications in market research. More
Henry Stewart is organising an one day event in London on September 26th, designed to provide assistance to all those who collect, analyse and use data from market research. "Case Studies in the Application of Mathematical and Statistical Techniques that Add Value to Marketing" promises to illustrate what can be achieved and how to achieve it by using state of the art maths and statistics. More
Frost & Sullivan's Fourth Annual Advanced Marketing Research Conference, being held between November 4th and 8th in Florida, promises to reveal the hottest marketing trends, research technologies and competitive strategies used in business today. More
ESOMAR's 54th International Annual Congress takes place in Rome on 23-26 September, entitled 'Marketing Transformation: Research for the Bottom Line.' More
While many large companies have come through the dot.com hype having implemented clear and effective online communication strategies, others appear to have gone backwards by failing to adjust their global Internet strategies to meet public demand. This is the conclusion of the third annual Rainier Web-Index(TM) Study on the use of the Web by FTSE 100 and the top 100 Fortune companies. More
The Census and Geodemographics Group of The Market Research Society is hosting a seminar on 24 October in London on "Market Research Meets Database Marketing". Aimed primarily at market researchers and database users, the event is designed to enable practitioners to get the most out of their research sources for database marketing and customer relationship management. More
ViewsCast Limited is partnering with Asia Market Intelligence (AMI), one of Asia's leading market research groups. Through the alliance, AMI will offer ViewsCast's innovative market research solution to its customers and prospects, in order to provide a live, quantifiable customer feedback mechanism that contributes directly to customer retention. More
The European interactive services market is far from maturity, and little is known about how future waves of consumers will want to integrate interactive media and services into their lives. To tackle this issue, the Yankee Group's Internet Strategies Europe Planning Service is launching Interactive Consumer Europe (ICE), a comprehensive study of both current Internet users and non-users to develop the most detailed demographic segmentation of the market to date. More
CC&C Marketing Research Ltd has formed a partnership with food business publishers Alfa-Mega to originate and publish a series of consumer trends surveys on issues of importance to the foodservice, ready meals and convenience meals industries. More
The consumer packaged goods industry is set to change more in the next five years than it has in the whole of the last four decades. This is the main thrust of Forrester's forthcoming Consumer Packaged Goods Summit to be held on October 17 to 18 2001 in Chicago USA. More
According to the recently released Summer 2001 Marketing Trends Survey (MTS) from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the marketing profession is facing a great deal of uncertainty. As a consequence, marketers have little confidence and have generally set very cautious company sales targets. More
Henry Stewart is running a 'Life Time Value' (LTV) marketing conference for all those that want to identify which customers are the best to recruit and keep. The event is to be held at the Café Royal in London on Tuesday, 11 September 2001. More
Around the world, some 429 million people are now believed to have Internet access, according to a new Nielsen//Netratings survey. Within Europe alone, more than a quarter of all homes are connected via a home PC, compared with one-third of all homes in Asia Pacific and nearly half of American households. More
Coca-Cola is still the UK's biggest consumer brand, but Britons are developing a taste for health foods and Australian wine. This is the headline conclusion of the annual survey of the UK's top fifty brands conducted by ACNielsen and Marketing magazine. More
Information Resources has launched a new e-commerce website to provide smaller consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies with the same market analysis and insights as their more established and larger competitors. With this online service, customers can select and purchase market intelligence available from IRI's InfoScan retail tracking service to meet their specific business needs. More
Harris Interactive has announced the acquisition of Market Research Solutions Ltd (MSRL), the Oxford-based research agency. In a part cash and part stock deal, Harris Interactive has agreed to employ 75 MRSL employees, as well as running the existing offices in Oxford and Newport. MRSL is expected to add up to £6 million to revenues in the first year. More
Claritas, a provider of marketing information and target marketing services, has launched MyBestProfiles, the fourth website in its continuing series of sites designed to provide access to marketing information. The other three sites are MyBestProspects, MyBestCustomers and MyBestLists. MyBestProfiles provides access to consumer lifestyles and purchasing habits. More
There has been a huge increase in the number of adults buying online in the six months to March this year, according to the latest Target Group Index (TGI) data. The figures show that buying has risen from almost nothing in October 2000 to 30% this last Spring. More
The Consumers' Association has commissioned ORC International to conduct an online "mystery shopping" programme. This is intended to assess the service levels as provided by companies whose websites display the Which? Web Trader "seal of approval." More
Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) has launched a range of new and extended research services focusing on the UK baby market. The aim of the new package is to comprehensively measure attitudes, behaviour and consumption within the marketplace. More
The manufacturing economy within Europe is believed to be contracting at its fastest rate since December 1998, when the sector was hit by the global financial crisis. This is according to the newly-released Reuter's Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index for the month of July. More
Mintel has just released new research on the bubbling energy and stimulant drinks market. According to the latest analysis, UK sales have more than trebled (366%) in the four years up to 2000. So significant is the growth in fact, that the £615 million market is now outpacing that of the dominant cola category. More
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